Have you ever felt controlled by your feelings or lack of feelings? I remember this being a frequent struggle in my life. I was standing in a service during my freshman year of college, and as everyone around me was praising the Lord fervently with arms outstretched and tears streaming down their faces, I felt numb. I had been going through a season where God seemed distant, my faith felt like it was dying, and my words felt empty. I got to the point where I questioned whether I was even saved because of how lacking my emotions towards God seemed, and how deep my doubts about whether He had saved me went. If this has ever been you, know that God is still with you in the valleys of doubt, silence, and numbness. Here are three helpful reminders when I didn’t "feel" sure in my faith.
Anchor yourself in the God who speaks in Scripture
We might be tempted to look to ourselves or look to the intensity of our emotions during worship in order to feel like we are growing in our faith. However, instead of trusting in the ever-changing feelings we have towards God, we can hear Him speak to us directly through His Word. How great a privilege is it that we do not have to rely on the intensity of our emotions to hear from God? We serve a God who has revealed Himself through His Word, and this should be our resting place. Even when your faith is weak, and your feelings fragile, and you aren’t even sure if God is working in your life, His Word remains as the solid ground you can place your hope in. Isaiah 40:8 tells us that "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." In the midst of fickle feelings, the Word of God is an immovable anchor through which we can know Him better.
Ask the Lord to grow your desires
Going back to my example earlier, I remember feeling like a fake Christian because my desires to worship God and read His Word were so lacking. I wanted to desire God more but could not make myself grow through sheer willpower alone. If you find yourself in this situation, remember that we serve a God who answers our prayers, who looks at us as His beloved children and gives His children good gifts, as Matthew 7:7-11 demonstrates.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
In the midst of fading desires, pray the seemingly elementary prayer asking the Lord to grow your desires for Him, and trust that He hears your prayer as a good Father who gives His children good gifts.
Remember the heart of Christ towards those who doubt
Finally, I am amazed at the heart of Jesus towards those who doubt. This is most clearly seen in His response to Thomas. While Christ could have berated Thomas with all manner of “I told you so’s,” His patience and kindness is clearly seen in how He responds to Thomas. Without an abrasive or angry attitude, we see in John 20:24-29 that He shows Thomas His wounds and calls him to leave doubt behind and believe that He has been raised from the dead. When your doubts feel all-consuming, know that your Savior is not far-off, but remains steadfast and faithful even when your love ebbs and flows.
A Salvation Stronger than Doubt
So to the woman whose emotions feed doubts about your faith, know that if you have trusted in Christ alone for your salvation and have believed the Gospel, your salvation is secure. The God who saved you is not silent, but speaks powerfully to you through His Word, and works in your deepest doubts to grow your understanding and desires for Him.
And to the friend of the woman in a season of doubt, remember to show the kindness and patience of the God who saved you to the women in your life who are struggling themselves. When your friend comes to you for wisdom as she struggles with doubt, remember to extend the kindness and grace of Christ towards the doubtful in your interaction with her, because He has saved you and redeemed you and calls you to show His love to those around you.
Your God sees the days where feelings falter and invites you to rest in the glorious freedom of the cross - which tells us that while we face our emotions, our God remains steadfast and faithful, ever present to hear our cries because of the sacrifice of His Son.
Commentaires