Pastor John D Jakes

Have you said in your heart or heard a friend say, “I just don’t feel that God is very close to me.”? In that moment, although we may not realize it, we are wrestling with who to believe – our feelings or God. I think it matters who we believe!

Let’s think today about that word ‘feel’.  In a world that proclaims that we should follow our feelings, we have almost been trained to make our feelings what determines our decisions.  In other words, “feeling” has become truth.  So, what happens when what God has promised doesn’t mesh with how we feel today?  I wonder how many who have put their faith in Jesus struggle with who to believe.  The question before us many times is – will I believe what I feel and act on that, or will I believe what God has said or promised and act on that.

Consider this when going through a really hard time or struggling with a particular sin.  The Lord has said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah31:3) and, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)  He has promised this.  He has declared it throughout His holy Word.  Yet, don’t we sometimes ‘feel’ as if God is far away from us?  Let me be clear, all of us go through times when we feel that way.  We see even some of the heroes of the faith feel that way.  What is the difference those heroes and us?  They did not make decisions by what they felt.  They made decisions based upon what God had said. Did they still feel alone? Did they still wonder what God was going to do? Yes! Yet, they acted upon what God had promised. That is the key of faith.  That is the path of biblical hope.  That is where we find joy.

We find victory as we trust God’s promises. Trust is not a simple feeling.  It is a profound choice.  It is a choice to believe even when we feel differently. God has declared his love for you and me.  He has demonstrated it on the cross.  We are now invited to trust Him.  There are times when we won’t automatically feel loved.  Yet, will we be ruled by what we feel or by what is true? Here is the awesome promise – by trusting God’s promises in faith we will discover that God has been there all the time. Does it matter if we trust God in this way? Yes! It makes all the difference!

Something to think about,
Pastor John