Truth? Feelings? Feelings? Truth?

by Susan Sampson

Question – Has the Lord forsaken me?

The Truth – “for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5b).

Question – Does the Lord love me?  I am prone to doubt this when things go so wrong in my own eyes and the circumstances feel so painful.

The Truth – “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Truth?  Feelings?  Feelings?  Truth?

Which one shall I go with?  Is that even a question?  I know which one I go with still much of the time.  Why?  As I type this I see the ridiculousness of it!  The futility.  The sin.  Lord, please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.  Please forgive my idolatry in bowing to king Feelings.  He is nothing.  You are God Most High, King of kings and Lord of lords.  You alone are God and worthy of all worship and humble obedience.  Your Word is truth.  You have exalted your name and your word above all things.

Truth – “My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8).

Heavenly Father,

You are God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth.  Worthy is your Son who was slain (Rev. 5:12).

We confess that we continue to bow to our feelings.  We continue to doubt your great love.  We continue to disregard your truth and believe the lies of the enemy and our flesh.  Forgive us, Lord.  Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Have mercy on us and give us grace to humbly believe the truth of your Word.

We come to your throne of grace and humbly ask for the grace to believe your perfect love for us.  To believe that you are our loving Father.  That you want so much for us to run to you and not any other person or any earthly thing.  Cause us to run into your loving arms!

We thank you, Lord, for your Word.  Your eternal truths recorded in the Bible for all generations.  We thank you for being our faithful Covenant Keeper.  Keep us all now close to your heart, Father.  Enable us to cling to you as you uphold us with your might right hand.  Keep us in your Word, Lord.

Grant us faith to CLING to Christ alone by –

• Choosing to believe your Word and not our feelings
• Looking to Christ alone
• Immediately obeying your Word
• Never giving an inch to our flesh or the enemy
• Going forward in your grace¹

“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Is. 40:11).

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27).

“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend, you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off’; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:8-10). 

Praising God from whom all blessings flow!

Footnotes:
¹Adapted from a recent Falling in Love Again with Your Lord lecture