Can we trust our "feelings"?

I remember watching movies with pounding heart because of anxious scenes on the screen. Sometime horrified watching horror scenes. Sitting at the edge of the chair with popped out eyes. I have seen people watching some scenes with tearful eyes.

What is wrong with us? Don't we know it is just a movie?

The fact is we all have a good knowledge that it is not real. But why do we still feel anxious and horrified?

The answer is, here our "emotions" supersedes our wisdom and knowledge. We, in our knowledge know it is a movie. But our "feeler" do not want to trust that.

So now, can we really trust our "feelings"?

Well, the movie experience says we cannot. This is true in spiritual life as well. During our spiritual journey we may get in to many situations where our emotions (feeling) supersedes the reality. The reality of the truth. The truth of God's Word. We may fall in to the trap of trusting our emotions rather than the truth of God's Word. We have to deliberately trust the TRUTH. We have to deliberately trust the reality of God's very Word.

When difficult situation comes our "feeler" would say God is not in control and I have to go through this by my own. But can we trust that feeling? Look at what the Word says:

I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," - Hebrews 13:5

Should we trust our feeling or the Word of God?

In the story of pharisee and tax collector, pharisee "felt" he was righteous because of his "works". But was his "feeling" right?

At the same time tax collector "felt" he wasn't righteous. But Luke 18:14 says, he was justified. He can still continue to "feel" unrighteous if he believe what his "feeler" says.

The danger I observe among today's Christians is, many of them trust their "feeling" instead of trusting what God says in His Word.

Many born again Christians live with a heavy load of guilt. Because they go with their emotions rather going with God's Word. They feel they are not fully forgiven, are not fully accepted by God. But look at what the Bible says, once we are in Christ we are:

a "new" creature, "old" is gone. -2 Corinthians 5:17
forgiven and righteous in His sight. - Colossians 2:13, 3:13
justified. - Romans 3:24
perfected and sanctified. - 1 Corinthians 6:11
clothed with Christ. - Galatians 3:27
saint or holy one. - 1 Corinthians 1:2,
secure and children of God. - John 1:12, 10:28
"in" Him and He is "in" us. - Romans 8:1, Colossians 1:27, John 17:23
seated in the heavenly places with Him. - Ephesians 2:6
citizen of heaven. - Philippians 3:20
loved and accepted. - John 17:23, Romans 5.5
members of Christ's body. - 1 Corinthians 12:18, 27
free from condemnation. - Romans 8:1
(the list goes on...)

Our "feeler" do not trust these all the time.

Another side of this is:

When people do not "feel" accepted, they look for something to satisfy their feeler. They want to "feel" good.
They need some "sight" instead of "faith". They need evidence. They need "special" experience. They need miracles. They need some "Holy Ghost hype". They need some "slain" experience. They need heart pounding music to stir them up.

Now where is their focus? on their "experiences"...(unfortunately) They eventually turn away from the truth of what Jesus did on the cross. They turn away from the finality of the cross. They forget the fact that the all sufficient God dwells in them. They forget the fact that they already have everything they need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Emotions itself has no intelligence. It doesn't distinguish the time (past, present or future). But God's infallible Word has all the intelligence. Jesus is the treasure of all the wisdom and knowledge. And we get to know Him through His Word.

Don't trust the "feeler". Trust God!. He is sovereign. He is unchangeable. He is trust worthy. He is the ROCK....

Stand on that solid Rock!

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References: Growing in Grace (Bob George), Lifetime Guarantee (Bill Gillham)