In Christ, we have a Good Shephard who’s willing and glad to take care of us! He tells us in John 16:33 that we will encounter trouble in the world, but not to be discouraged because He has overcome the world. And all throughout scripture, God promises that we too are and will be overcomers, as we have salvation through Jesus Christ!
Sometimes, we can be misled from God’s empowering truths by moments of chaos, in life, and the worldly viewpoints that linger or follow, then end up carrying emotions and troubles we no longer have to. We can also bear burdens that do not belong to us… These are matters that can be cast up, through prayer, and onto our Lord and Savior. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Do not be led by the feelings of your heart. For, the heart is in the flesh, and as Christians, we walk in the Spirit, and we can and must do things through godly wisdom, and not emotions that waver and seek satisfaction in the things of the world, through lust of the eyes, etc. (1 John 2:16.) It sees through natural senses instead of the faith we’ve been called to and established in (1 Corinthians 3:1-4;18-23). Feelings harbor pains, fears, and problems that our God can eradicate!
Yes, we can be led into lies, confusion, and unnecessary hurt by listening to feelings that are more than not temporal and conquerable, or limited, misguided, and false altogether. Because the heart without God is wicked (Jerimiah 17:9), and because feelings often perceive wrong, they are best for guiding us only to mistakes and defeat. God alone is righteous and all-knowing, and He alone holds victory over any and everything in the entire world.
So remember, in Christ, we have a redeemed heart! And we can train and strengthen ourselves in faith and all the positive behaviors that abide in it, and the fruit it brings (1 Peter 1:6-19)!
Our feelings continuously may need guidance to the truth we’re sealed by! — Ground yourself in God’s word. God will help you raise your perception. He is not the author of confusion. (James 1:5 & 2 Timothy 1: 7) He is holy, love, and life-giving!
• 2nd Timothy 3:14-17
“14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
• 2nd Corinthians 10:5
“5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
• Ephesians 4:13-15
“13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—”
• John 10: 10:11
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
Practical Practice Against False Feelings
James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Let’s address a few feelings to make this a practical resource against spiritual warfare because that’s what it is when we’re tempted to doubt God or are experiencing trouble in our faith and getting closer to Him.
• For starters, on the topic of faith, know that it is God who ignites it, and so will finish the gift inside us! (Ephesians 2:8) If He has adopted us out of the world of darkness, and made us His, softening our heart to repentance and to lean only on Jesus, our way maker, then we will not be forsaken! (Romans 5)
In this topic, we want to avoid falling onto any side other than the truth. We want to find balance in God who remains the same throughout time, and stable to trust! There are two sides to every coin, and falsehood can totter over into our lives in different ways.
Love. — False feelings in love may attract you to bad love or rather lusts, or on the flip side cause you to believe you’re unloved. We can deny these things, knowing God is good, pure love is good, and He freely gives lasting love which will outshine any lust and empower us to believe (even in the presence of doubt Mark 9:24), choose, and enjoy Him.
Fear. — False feelings in fear may lead you to be undiscerning, cowardly, or doubtful behavior. We CAN encounter danger. We ARE God’s sheep, but among wolves, and led to be peacemakers like Him. We should discern trouble, and listen to the Holy Spirit’s direction on how to fix it or simply to stray away from it, while knowing God IS for us, fights for us, goes before us, and is able to make provision and grant victory to us! Nothing can take away our eternal safety or our wins over “Goliath” or any battle God grants us to win! We can be strengthened to walk boldly in godliness like a lion also!
Shame or Guilt. — False feelings in these can make you feel unworthy, whereas God has washed away our sins, and who Christ has saved, who can condem?
Anxiety. — False feelings in here can spread into many areas, but what worry is greater than God’s assurance? What probes your mind more than truth? Discover what you’re anxious about, and see if a lie has caused the turmoil. God wants to comfort you no matter what! If you don’t know what scripture yet could reassure you, let His love do so. Scripture says that God’s mercies are new every day. If you’re alive, you’re a person who God sent Jesus to save (John 3:16, Romans 5:8.) • Jesus is fulfilling! He volunteered to have a relationship with you, no matter the cost. So tell Him your desires, and trust His heart and work! (Psalm 37:4, Luke 11:13, Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 8:28)
Tell hopelessness you are always with hope in Christ, nothing is impossible for God, He can be miraculous! Tell loneliness about your God. Tell anger it is due to evil, and God’s wrath will justify, do not allow it to be unrighteous, tell your heart to follow God’s ways to life!
Whatever you’re feeling may be very relevant and real, but God’s power is also! What formerly scared a child can be outgrown with more age/time and wisdom, and what now troubles you can be put to death by the grace of God! Feelings don’t rule you if God is your Lord! Despite your feelings, God loves you as His child. He understands every trouble and can and will wipe away every ache, and replace every stolen light, in time! (Revelation 21:4)
Hebrews 4: 14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.