Faith, Not Feelings, Pleases God

In Job 1:21 I read, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (NIV)

When I was a new Christian, God often gave me confirming emotions so I knew he’s there and he cares. But as I grew in faith, God will wean me from relying on emotions that help me believe he is present and at work in my life.

God’s omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things. One is a fact; the other is often a feeling. God is always present, even when I am unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion.

He wants me to sense his presence, but he’d rather have me trust in his presence than feel his presence. Faith, not feelings, pleases God.

My faith will stretch the most when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. This happened to Job. On a single day he lost everything; his family, his business, his health, and everything he owned. And, most discouragingly, God said nothing to Job for 37 chapters!

How do I praise God when I don’t understand what’s happening in my life and God is silent? How do I stay connected to him in a crisis without communication? How do I keep my eyes on Jesus when they’re full of tears? I do what Job did: “Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised’” (Job 1:20-21 NIV).

Tell God exactly how I feel. Pour out my heart to God. Unload every emotion I’m feeling. Job did this when he said, “I can’t be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak” (Job 7:11 GNT).

He cried out when God seemed distant: “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4 NIV).

God can handle my doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions. I can take everything to him in prayer.

In summary, I came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing. The Lord gives and the Lord can take away. Regardless, may the name of the Lord be praised. When I was a new Christian, God often gave me confirming emotions so I knew he’s there and he cares. But as I grow in faith, God will wean me from relying on emotions that help me believe. God’s omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things. God is always present, even when I am unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion. He wants me to sense his presence, but he’d rather have me trust in his presence than feel his presence. Faith, not feelings, pleases God. My faith will stretch the most when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. How do I praise God when I don’t understand what’s happening in my life and God is silent? How do I stay connected to him in a crisis without communication? Do what Job did: he worshiped and that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing. The Lord gives and takes away, regardless the name of the Lord should be praised.  Then Tell God exactly how I feel. Pour out my heart to God. Unload every emotion I’m feeling. He cried out when God seemed distant: God can handle my doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions. I can take everything to him in prayer.

Job did not hide his overwhelming grief. He had not lost his faith in God; instead his emotions showed that he was human and that he loved his family. God created my emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them as Job did. If I experience a deep loss, a disappointment, or a heartbreak, admit my feelings to myself and others, and grieve. Job had lost his possessions and family in this first of Satan's tests, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God's sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Satan lost the first round. Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who he is, not for what he gives. I need to remember that the Lord gave me what I have or had, and he can take it away. Regardless, I praise his name for who he is, recognizing his sovereign authority over everything. I need to love God for who he is and not for what he gives. God is always present, even when I'm unaware of him. His presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion. While he wants me to sense his presence, he's more concerned that I trust him than feel him. I need to live by faith, not by sight or feelings. So when I don't understand what's happening and it seems God is silent, I can do what Job did. Tell him exactly how I feel. Pour out my heart to him. Unload every emotion that I'm feeling.