Faith Over Feelings: Choosing Truth When Life Feels Hard

Our emotions are powerful. One moment, we feel on top of the world, and the next, we’re weighed down by anxiety, sadness, or frustration. Feelings can be wonderful, but they can also be deceptive. If we’re not careful, we can let our emotions dictate our faith instead of allowing our faith to shape our emotions.

So how do we trust God when our feelings try to tell us otherwise? How do we hold on to truth when life feels hard?

Feelings Are Real, But They’re Not Always True

It’s important to acknowledge that our emotions are real. God created us with the ability to feel joy, sadness, anger, excitement, and sorrow. But while our emotions are real, they aren’t always reliable.

The Bible reminds us in Jeremiah 17:9,

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

This means that if we make decisions based on how we feel in the moment, we can easily be led away from God’s truth.

• Feelings say: “God doesn’t care about me.”

  • Truth says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 34:18)

• Feelings say: “I’m not good enough.”

  • Truth says: “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

• Feelings say: “Nothing will ever change.”

  • Truth says: “God is working all things together for my good.” (Romans 8:28)

If we allow our emotions to dictate our faith, we will be unstable. But when we stand on God’s Word, we have a foundation that cannot be shaken.

Faith Is Choosing Truth Over Feelings

Faith means trusting God even when we don’t feel like it. Faith says, “I will stand on God’s Word even when my emotions tell me otherwise.”

Here’s what choosing faith over feelings looks like:

• Feelings say: “I feel alone.”

  • Faith says: “God will never leave me nor forsake me.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

• Feelings say: “I can’t forgive them.”

  • Faith says: “I forgive because Christ first forgave me.” (Colossians 3:13)

• Feelings say: “I’m too weak.”

  • Faith says: “God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

How to Live by Faith and Not by Feelings

1. Stay Rooted in the Word

   • The more you know God’s truth, the easier it is to fight against negative emotions. Daily time in the Bible helps you renew your mind.

2. Speak Truth Over Your Life

   • Instead of speaking what you feel, declare what God says. Write down Bible verses that remind you of His promises and speak them out loud.

3. Pray Through Your Emotions

   • Don’t ignore your feelings—take them to God. Jesus Himself prayed through deep emotions in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:44)

4. Surround Yourself with Strong Believers

   • When your emotions overwhelm you, lean on godly friends who will point you back to truth instead of feeding into your feelings.

Faith Over Feelings Brings Peace

The world tells us to “follow our hearts” and “do what feels right,” but God calls us to follow Him and trust His truth above our emotions.

When we choose faith over feelings, we experience true peace.

So today, no matter how you feel, choose to trust in God’s promises. His Word never fails.

Has God helped you overcome your emotions with faith? Share your story in the comments!

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