If God Created Feelings, Why Can’t We Trust Them?
Christians must ensure their feelings are in alignment with scripture.
God created us with the ability to have a wide range of feelings.
Happiness, sadness, frustration, and fear are all important emotions that enrich our lives.
However, they can be deceiving and can’t always be trusted.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)
Feelings are like the wind, they can come from all directions and change quickly. They can blow softly or with hurricane force.
Emotions can cause uncertainty in our hearts. Do any of these statements sound familiar?
I feel like God has abandoned me and doesn’t care about what I’m going through.
The Bible actually says the opposite. God has not abandoned us, He cares. We are valuable to Him.
Matthew 10:30-31 (NKJV) ”But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
I feel that if God really cared, He wouldn’t give me so many problems at once.
Scripture explains our trials can help us grow spiritually.
James 1:2-3 (NKJV) ”My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
How can a loving God allow so much suffering in my life?
God explains the answer to this question in Genesis 3. God created a perfect world. When sin entered it, suffering became a part of life.
The apostle Paul wrote this verse regarding his own suffering:
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV)“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
We need to test our feelings against scripture. If they are in agreement, we can trust the way we feel and make decisions based on them.
Our feelings will change, but God never does.
The truth of the Bible should be the solid foundation on which we base our decisions.
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26 (NKJV)
Feelings can be very deceptive, His love isn't. We must learn to discern by the Spirit.
Speaking of feelings - this section of Hebrews should be read & studied:
Hebrews 2:17–18
[17] Therefore he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (ESV)
I grieve for those who ask the common questions that you listed. Note how God unjustly gets the blame. It indicates a distorted world view and concept of God. Error can cause real pain.