Faith Over Feelings

by Angie Thomas

In a recent Who Am I in Christ lecture, Laurie asked us how we direct our minds, thoughts, and hearts heavenward. How do we think of our present circumstances, in light of eternity?

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart.Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Light and momentary? That is certainly not how I would describe the trials I often find myself in or the struggles that weigh down my spirit and heart.  But Paul is letting us in on a secret.  In light of eternity, in light of what is to come, our trials and struggles really are light and momentary, regardless of how heavy and prolonged they may perhaps feel to us.

And here is where we are challenged once again girls to choose faith over our feelings.  Let’s be honest…it is a battle.  Moment by moment we must choose to believe God’s promises to us in His Word over the perceived reality. It is so difficult to believe when we cannot always fully understand the trial, but God promises an amazing eternal reward!  Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:6-8, that our faith is more precious than gold, but often the genuineness of it has to be tested.  We may profess with our mouths we trust Jesus and have faith in Him, but until the trials come we often do not know the reality of what is in our hearts.  Faith is not manifested merely in verbal assent but in action and trust.

May we rejoice in our trials for in them we are gaining eternal glory and proving authentic, priceless faith!