For we walk by faith, not by sight.
II Corinthians 5:7
Yesterday I wrote in my journal about a dear woman who wrote to me for advice after hearing my interview on the Focus on the Family radio program...
II Corinthians 5:7
Yesterday I wrote in my journal about a dear woman who wrote to me for advice after hearing my interview on the Focus on the Family radio program...
Now, in a second letter from her, sent only a few days after the first one, she asked me about feelings. She told me that God sometimes "feels" far away. Also, that she doesn't always "feel" forgiven.
Well as anyone who's been a Christian for awhile will confess, it is very common to think that God has not completely forgiven us, or that He is far away. So, once again, as I got ready to reply, I asked the Lord for wisdom as to what to say that would encourage this person in her walk with the Lord.
Therefore I again stressed to her the importance of knowing and applying God's Word to every situation that we face in life, and to do the same when it comes to feelings. I then patiently repeated to her what I'd written in my first letter concerning the forgiveness of one's sins. Next I went into the subject of feelings.
I told her that I don't always feel God's presence either. The Christian's life is never to be based on feelings, I said. Rather it's about having an unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus, and in His word.
My counsel was very simple. I encouraged her not to go by fickle feelings or often changing emotions. Instead, she needs to learn to walk in the faith which God has already given to her as a believer in Christ. It's a process which takes time. Living by faith doesn't happen overnight. But, as we grow in our faith, I said, living it out will become easier.
I then ended the letter by quoting a well known Scripture. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).'" Sometimes we think God is far away. But the truth is, He has never left us. And He never will.
D.B.
Well as anyone who's been a Christian for awhile will confess, it is very common to think that God has not completely forgiven us, or that He is far away. So, once again, as I got ready to reply, I asked the Lord for wisdom as to what to say that would encourage this person in her walk with the Lord.
Therefore I again stressed to her the importance of knowing and applying God's Word to every situation that we face in life, and to do the same when it comes to feelings. I then patiently repeated to her what I'd written in my first letter concerning the forgiveness of one's sins. Next I went into the subject of feelings.
I told her that I don't always feel God's presence either. The Christian's life is never to be based on feelings, I said. Rather it's about having an unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus, and in His word.
My counsel was very simple. I encouraged her not to go by fickle feelings or often changing emotions. Instead, she needs to learn to walk in the faith which God has already given to her as a believer in Christ. It's a process which takes time. Living by faith doesn't happen overnight. But, as we grow in our faith, I said, living it out will become easier.
I then ended the letter by quoting a well known Scripture. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).'" Sometimes we think God is far away. But the truth is, He has never left us. And He never will.
D.B.
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