feelings – La Vista Church of Christ

I Feel That I Am Saved

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:45:41 +0000

Author Unknown
via Seeking Things Above

A gospel preacher was talking to a woman who said she knew she was saved. The preacher said, “How do you know you are saved?”

She made the following reply, “I was attending a religious service one time and all of a sudden I felt light as a feather—I felt I was floating—I felt I was saved.”

The preacher asked the woman, “Were you light as a feather?”

“Of course not,” she said. “Were you really floating”?

“Certainly not.”

“Were you saved”?

“Oh, yes, I was saved.”

The preacher then asked this significant question, “Lady, if you could not trust your feelings about the first two things, why do you trust your feelings about the third thing? Even though you felt light as a feather, that didn’t make it so. Even though you felt like you were floating and because you felt like you were saved, that didn’t make it so.”

God’s word tells us how we may know for sure we are saved. “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We are to walk by faith. The following texts will help to answer the question of how I can know I am saved: I John 5:13; John 6:45; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 5:8-9.

The Truth of Feelings and Faith

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 08 May 2026 15:33:29 +0000

by Josh Creel

What role should feelings play in faith? In a culture that loves to say “follow your heart,” there is a very real danger of letting our feelings become our source of truth. But are feelings always bad?

In this video, we discuss:

The danger of letting feelings define truth
How to handle emotional ups and downs as a Christian
A way to make sure we are actually being guided by the truth
How truth actually sets us free from negative emotions

The Language of Feelings

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:46:11 +0000

by Gardner Hall

Have you heard this type of language from disciples you know?

“I took it as a sign that God wanted us to be here.”
“I think that God was trying to tell me something by allowing this to happen.”
“I felt a providential nudge to do it.”

Our evangelical friends have used this type of language for decades, and now it is exploding in popularity, not just among them but also among brethren we know! After all, we read their material and listen to their media. Postmodern thought, with its emphasis on trusting feelings with a corresponding distrust of language and the written word, has overwhelmed the religious world. The concept that God speaks directly to us through our feelings, hunches, and events in our lives is “in,” but it is dangerous for several reasons:

Even during those rare intervals in history of direct revelation, God didn’t speak to millions of followers through their premonitions, leadings, and inner illumination, but rather precisely to a few prophets through words (Acts 11:14). On rare occasions he confirmed those words with signs (Gideon, Hezekiah, Zechariah), but the original message always involved language, words.
With our prejudices and inner biases, we have enough trouble being honest with God’s objective written word. Throw our “gut feelings” and other subjective impressions into the mix of what we feel to be God’s revelation, and the waters become hopelessly muddied.
The lack of trust in the sufficiency of the written words of God’s inspired apostles and prophets has always been a prime mover behind apostasy. When some say longingly, “But don’t we need more than what we have in the scriptures?” they are frankly showing a lack of faith and a great disrespect for God’s chosen method of communicating with us.

Careful with “the language of Ashdod,” the jargon of those who look for God’s leading apart from inspired scripture! Scriptural principles are sufficient to reveal God’s will to us and to confirm our path before him (II Timothy 3:16, 17). In inspired scripture, we have the faith that was once for all time delivered to the saints (Jude 3). We don’t need more!

Beware the Hands of Esau

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:39:23 +0000

by William V. Beasley
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 3, September 1993

Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac and, thereby, to obtain the blessing intended for Esau (Genesis 27:1-29). God has never tried to whitewash the character of those who serve Him; He presents the bad along with the good. Both Rebekah and Jacob are seen as liars and deceivers (mockers), with no genuine respect for Isaac. (1)

Isaac was deceived and acted upon that deception. Isaac’s conversation with Esau was overheard and acted upon by Rebekah and Jacob. Isaac’s physical senses gave him contradictory information. The sense of smell (garments of Esau) and touch (goatskin) said "Esau." The voice was the voice of Jacob, but claimed to be Esau. Isaac’s perplexity is evident in his statement: "The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau" (Genesis 27:22).

When one leaves the bedrock of Bible authority, there is no lack of "the hands of Esau" (things which are intended to deceive). We want, in this article, to consider eleven arguments ("the hands of Esau") used in modern America. These eleven arguments have been divided into three groups (Human Authority, Feelings, and Assumptions).

Human Authority

We are well acquainted with the "Authorities Argument" from modern advertisers. An actor who plays a doctor on television recommends a cough medicine (playing a doctor makes him an "authority" on medicine). Baseball players are used to sell razor blades, shaving cream, deodorants, etc. Athletes and just about everyone else are used to sell beer.

There are also Religious Human "Authorities."

"The scholars teach . . . " (John 7:48; I Corinthians 1:18-25). It can be good to study, to know what the scholars say, but remember that some scholars have gone crazy (come to reject the inspired word of God) by degrees (AA, BA, PhD, ThD, etc.). Our faith must stand in God and His word (Romans 10:17) and not in man’s scholarship.
"The vast majority say ..." God has warned us about this one (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13-14).
"We’ve always (or never) done it this (or that) way..." or "All of my family has been (fill in the blank) for at least four generations." I am susceptible to this one; I do not believe in making change for the sake of change. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Should a Muslim refuse to hear and obey the gospel of Christ because his family has followed Mohammedanism for six, eight, or ten generations? Paul had to leave his father’s religion (Galatians 1:13-17).
"Old brother/preacher/elder taught that ..." Once again, we are susceptible. I have a great regard for McGarvey, Whiteside, and Tant, but I must remember that these were men, with all the frailties and failings thereof. We are to follow righteous examples (I Corinthians 4:14; Philippines 3:17; 4:9), but even this is limited (I Corinthians 11:1; I Thessalonians 1:6).

Feelings

We are accustomed to making decisions, some good and some bad, based on feelings:

"I felt (or thought) it would be alright to leave the car unlocked for a few minutes."
"He (or she) seemed so honest."
"It didn’t feel like it was going to rain."

There are also "the hands of Esau" feelings," "I wouldn’t trade what I feel in my heart for all the Bibles in America," or "It is just better felt than told." I wonder if these would trade what they feel for a locked car door or an umbrella? Feelings are deceptive: Jacob felt that his son, Joseph, was dead (Genesis 37:34-35). The deceiver (Jacob) has now become the deceived. When Jacob learned the truth (that Joseph was alive and how he came to be in Egypt), I wonder if he remembered how he had deceived Isaac, his father? There is a perfect illustration of the unreliability of feelings in our text (Genesis 27:21-27). It felt right and even smelled right. Remember, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).

"Just let your conscience be your guide." The conscience is the product of teaching. A few women in India kidnap and offer, as a bloody sacrifice, the child of a neighbor (to ensure her own fertility), in good conscience. Your conscience is no better than your knowledge of God’s word. What is said of faith (Romans 10:17) might just as validly be said of developing a truly righteous conscience. The New Testament speaks of a weak conscience (I Corinthians 8:7); Paul lived in all good conscience (Acts 23:1; 24:16) even while persecuting the saints of God (I Timothy 1:11).

"If that were true, it would mean. . . " Since I don’t feel the consequences are right, fair, just, or what I want, I choose to disbelieve the premise. If salvation is not by faith alone (without baptism—Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) that would mean that my_________was lost. If there is only one body (church—Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4), my friends and family are unsaved.

"I’m satisfied with my religion." When the Israelites were satisfied, it was a period of great wickedness: "... every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The real question is: Is God satisfied (I Thessalonians 4:1; II Timothy 2:4)?

Assumptions

Some people ask for a sign and assume that God accepts all the terms of the deal: "If________be true, scriptural, or acceptable let_______________come to pass."

One girl defended her unscriptural marriage: "I know our marriage is scriptural; I prayed that if it were, we would be able to adopt the baby, and if it were not, that we would not get the baby." God has given special signs to some individuals, like Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) and Hezekiah (II Kings 20:8-11). God offered a sign to Ahaz (Isaiah 7:10), but Ahaz refused. Ahaz refused what God offered; others assume God owes them a sign or demand one.

Conclusion

Beware "the hands of Esau." Human Authorities, Feelings, and Assumptions are not faith (II Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17).

Footnote:

It should be noted that God had said that the blessing was to go to Jacob, so it could be said that Rebekah and Jacob were trying to keep Isaac from going against God. However, God doesn't need men's help, and the way they went about it was wrong.

My wife has become a hyper-charismatic

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:10:54 +0000

Question:

Dear Jeffrey,

I hope you are doing well and that your weekend was good. I would like to ask for your thoughts on a situation. To make a long story short, my household is of different beliefs. Both my wife and I are members of the church, but over time, through personal experiences and following certain teachers, my spouse has adopted some "hyper-charismatic" beliefs: you have to be very careful about being witched, there are still Apostles and Prophets with live call-in shows, people (even Christians) need deliverance from demons, etc. At the same time, "every church" is apparently okay; it is just a matter of "You do you, and I'll do me." It becomes a real problem when I try to ask questions about whether a belief is biblical, etc. My spouse often becomes very unapproachable and flips it back, accusing me of being a religious "know-it-all," a Pharisee, and other things. And I certainly do not help matters because I sometimes get sensitive as well, and my emotions (frustration especially) can get the best of me. We both end up making mistakes with our words and attitudes when this happens. In any case, trying to show a "Berean spirit" by checking doctrines and beliefs against the Scriptures is a dangerous prospect that invites ridicule. Even asking questions like "What does this prophet teach about baptism?" ends up in "Ask them! Leave me alone." So, over time, I have become quiet and shy instead of saying what I feel should be said. Discernment and discretion are valuable things!

I know what I need to do in this situation—pray, pray, and pray. And to love my wife no matter what. The good thing, as I've said, is that my wife is of the church, but the teachings she's adopted just seem so far off to me. And she does not prevent or protest me from attending church services and so on. But she personally wants nothing to do with it—she just wants to watch her "prophet" teachers online instead. I know what the Bible says about living with unbelieving spouses, though I know this case is slightly different because she isn't "unbelieving" in that sense. But it is tough. Our marriage and love for each other are both very strong and good, but this problem makes it very hard to communicate openly. I often feel tempted not to be honest—to be quiet or say I'm okay when, in fact, that situation is bothering me. It is disheartening to try and ask about the Scriptures and then get blasted with endless testimonies and anecdotes instead of the Bible, accusations of being a Pharisee, or Bible concepts (in my view) being taken too far and out of context.

For my wife, there are some old wounds related to the church. She grew up in a church of Christ that may have taught correct doctrine, but there was dishonesty, immorality, and other things in the church. And, as I mentioned, very sensitive personal experiences seemed to confirm beliefs for her that are very common in her culture (e.g., Witchcraft, spirits, demons, etc.). I still hold out hope because she is not opposed to my continuing with the local brethren, and there are local Christians who love her and hope to reach out to her. There is a lot of stubbornness in this matter, I must say. But we will be praying for a heart to change from pride to humility.

If you don't mind giving some advice, I'd appreciate it. I also need prayers to be gentler and more self-controlled, but also bold in what needs to be believed and said. We have a good marriage, and my wife truly has a very grounded sense of Christian belief and morality. But when her current beliefs are challenged, it becomes a battle. So, this is a crucial area that can sometimes become toxic.

Thank you very much and take care. May God bless your efforts and work in the Kingdom.

Answer:

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this situation. You are correct that gentleness will be needed to guide her back to the truth. "The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (II Timothy 2:24-26).

Your wife is a former Christian. She once believed the truth, but she has left it. Since she is no longer a true believer, Paul's advice applies: "And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?" (I Corinthians 7:13-16). Perhaps, one day, your consistency will persuade her of the truth.

Her world is based on emotions, not on truth. That is why she lashes out whenever you bring up the Scriptures. I suspect she knows she has no foundation for what she wants to believe. That is why she doesn't even attempt to justify herself with the Scriptures -- except for a few passages taken out of context. I don't know if she would be willing to have family Bible readings. Learning the Scriptures might break the ice over time.

Question:

Hi again,

Thank you for your advice and reminders. We have recently discussed praying more frequently and reading the Bible together with intention. We can indeed both be poor communicators when discussing important matters.

We really need to pray that she changes her current thinking. Anytime a doctrine is pointed out, it inevitably becomes "Is the Church perfect? Don't judge! I have the Holy Spirit; my conscience is not bothering me, so leave me alone." Or "Doctrine is not important to me," even after showing verses that clearly state that proper teaching is stressed multiple times in the Bible. And the situation is often flipped back, where the focus becomes my communication, pointing out doctrine is perceived as "judgmental," and saying that something is right or wrong is seen as "pride." I believe that we will get through this with lots of prayer and patience. Perhaps neither of us has done enough of either, and that led us to this difficulty.

Answer:

When you use the Scriptures to answer her points, she is arguing with God, not you. It is God's doctrine that will change her if she eventually allows it. Be patient. Be consistent. Be kind. Know that you are doing your best in a difficult situation.

I’m losing my enthusiasm

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:18:57 +0000

Question:

First of all, I want to say thank you for your hard work and dedication to your church and the website. I recently discovered your website, and I enjoy reading the questions and your answers.

I've been a Christian for a long time. I've been a member of various churches of Christ in different cities. The problem that I have is that I have been in and out of the church many times. The longest time was for about 25 years, when I decided to become a drug addict and alcoholic. I don't know many people who have decided to do that, and I may not have said consciously that's what I wanted to do, but that's what I ended up doing. Now, with the help of my Savior Jesus Christ, I have been able to stay away from alcohol and drugs for the last 30 years. I am serving the Lord as the song leader.

The problem that I find I am having now is the lack of enthusiasm that I see happening with me. There are a lot of times when I put off picking the songs until the last possible moment (like Sunday morning, right before I leave for church). There have also been a few times when I didn't want to go to church, but I did anyway and had a great time.

I know that God wants us to put Him first in everything we do. I also know that if I keep on going the way that I have been going, I will eventually stop worshiping and fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. As a recovering alcoholic and addict, I know that it is a very bad thing that could lead me to places that I don't want to go again. I am very grateful to God for getting me sober, and I am going to try my best to stay sober. After all, who am I to undo what God has done for me?

My question is, how can I be more enthusiastic about going to church and worshipping the very God who opened my eyes? It is because of Him that I am who I am today. It is because I prayed and asked Him for help in changing my life.

How do I give Him more of me?

Thank you for your time.

Answer:

It is a rare person who can maintain a high level of enthusiasm for a long period of time. I enjoyed the various jobs that I've had over my life, but there were times when I had to make myself go because I just didn't feel like working that day. If we understand that these things happen in secular work, then it should not be surprising to see them happening in our spiritual lives.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Consider what the writer of Hebrews offers:

How reliable is God and His offer of eternal life to us? "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil" (Hebrews 6:17-19). If our Lord is that reliable, should not His children also demonstrate dedication to Him? It should not matter what I feel at the moment -- those feelings will eventually change. What matters is that I have a chosen purpose.
Often, we spiral by focusing inward. Consider the low point in Elijah's life (I Kings 19). What was on his mind? "I'm the only one left." What was God's answer? "I have tasks for you to do." Instead of seeing attendance at church as an obligation, realize that this is an opportunity to give back to God by encouraging others to be faithful. In helping others, you will help yourself.
Remember where you are going and the fact that you have limited time. Every day, I have less time left on earth. There are things I need to fix about myself, and there are people I would like to help so that they can reach heaven. I don't have time to waste.

Decisions, then, are made with your reason and not with your feelings. Good decisions will eventually lead to good feelings. Still, understand that every day won't be wonderful. There will be hard times. There will be boring times. Whatever I face, I can grow into a better servant of God.

By the way, when selecting songs, ask the speaker what his topic is the day before. Then come up with a list of songs and an order that teaches a message on that same topic (or a similar one). Challenge yourself to get a flow of ideas that sets the mode for everyone to worship together. Learn more songs so you have more to work with. Also, teach others new songs and encourage young men to learn to lead singing.

Heartfelt Religion

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:45:25 +0000

by A. Adams

Scripture can put you on the spot when it makes it obvious that your beliefs, actions, or choices are wrong. The simple solution to such conflict is to change and only believe what comes by “hearing...the word” (Romans 10:17); or, said another way, stop doing what you’ve been doing, and start being a “doer...of the word” (James 1:22). Some people try another way. They fall back on the heart, as though the heart were some refuge from the truth and reality. I have seen people who, when put on the spot by the Word, place their hands over their hearts and proclaim that what they “feel in their hearts” trumps what they see in the Word. Herein lies great irony. They do not, shall we say, understand their own heart. The Greeks called the “heart,” kardia. The Hebrews called it leb or lebab. The heart is the seat of rational life, emotional life, conscientious life, and volitional life. Look at “the heart” as having four compartments: think, feel, ought, and act. Each compartment is distinct; yet, individually, none is sufficient of itself as the basis of faith and decision-making. Let’s look at each.

Think

The mind is that part of us we use to understand, perceive, and conclude. It’s why we can do algebra and geometry, why we can be logical. Because we can think, we can deduce and conclude. That’s what Paul means when he says, “Through the things that are made,” we can “clearly see” and “perceive [God’s] everlasting power and divinity” (Romans 1:20).

Feel

Emotions move us to love, compassion, mercy; anger, disgust, indignation; humility, meekness, kindness; patience, forbearance, forgiveness; zeal, devotion, sacrifice; and many more.

Ought

“Each man must be fully assured in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). It’s never right to act contrary to what you believe to be right, or wrong; for “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). But, we learn from Paul that one can “live in all good conscience before God” (Acts 23:1) and be wrong.

Act

We do what we want to do. “Do this” is a common phrase in the Bible. Human beings have willpower. They choose, decide, and act. This involves a great challenge. Rather than simply saying, “I will do this or that,” the Spirit says, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Heartfelt religion is a good thing only when all the parts of the heart are working. Intellect does not outweigh nor negate emotion or volition.

Feelings are incomplete and impotent without will. Conscience is not, after all, our guide. Sitting around thinking about things, and never doing is profitless; nor is there profit in going “full steam ahead” without having thought it through.

Not Feeling the Spirit Move There?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:09:06 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

I've heard several speak of attending various churches and "not feeling the Spirit move" there. This idea is foreign to the Bible. Feelings have never been the detector of the Spirit of God. If you rely upon feelings, you are not relying upon the Spirit of God. You are relying upon your feelings that can easily be deceived or mistaken.

Since the devil transforms himself into an "angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:13-14) and there are "deceiving spirits" (I Timothy 4:1ff) at work, how would you know that deceiving spirits are not making you think that the Spirit of God is not present at a church gathering? Perhaps your feelings are being used by the deceiver!

The real Holy Spirit is associated with the truth He revealed (John 17:17; 16:13; I Corinthians 2:10-16; II John 9-10). Perhaps people need to seek the already revealed truth, rather than taking the lazy route of "feeling" and trying to "sense" whether they think the Spirit of God is present. If the truth given by the Spirit is present, then that is the measure of whether God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are present. If the truth is in us, then the Spirit is in us. If we do not bring this doctrine, then God is not with us.

"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (II John 9-11 NKJV).

God is inseparable from His word and our true association with His word. We can only know the things of God through the revelation God gave by the Spirit in the Bible. So, don't criticize a group because you don't "feel" something in the air, but rather investigate whether truth is taught and practiced from the heart there.

Who Is Telling the Truth?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:33:04 +0000

by Jerry Falk

A friend on Facebook recently asked, “How do you know ‘facts’ are truth or lies?” Apparently, he was referring to the current political climate in the United States.

I took his question a step further.

If we reject the existence of God and dismiss biblical morality, on what basis do we determine whether something is true or false? Science, while valuable, is not infallible, and it cannot determine what is morally right or wrong. Morality requires a higher standard.

Moreover, if we are merely the result of a cosmic accident—if our closest relative in the evolutionary chain is the chimpanzee—why should truth matter at all? Aren’t we, in that case, nothing more than a coincidental byproduct of primordial slime?

And further, why should your truth be the standard and not mine? What gives the U.S. government the moral authority to declare certain actions “legal” (and therefore presumed good or truthful) and others “illegal” (bad or false)? If truth is relative, then laws are nothing more than personal preferences enforced by power.

To make any meaningful claim about right and wrong—or truth and falsehood—we must appeal to an objective standard beyond ourselves. This applies not only to individuals but also to nations. When leaders reject a moral authority higher than human legislation, it becomes easy to believe that “one person’s truth is just as valid as another’s.”

Most people shape the truth to suit their desires. They bend it to fit personal preferences or ideologies, justifying actions and lifestyles not by objective standards, but by internal perceptions and emotional impulses. As an example, even biological reality is now being redefined as merely a mental construct. We're told that sex assigned at birth doesn’t matter—what matters is how one feels. And others are expected to affirm those feelings as truth, even when they directly contradict observable, scientific reality.

I have little confidence in political leaders or parties—especially those who ignore the biblical command to “put away falsehood” and “speak the truth with [their] neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). But if human life is simply a journey “from the goo to the zoo to you,” then why should truth matter at all?

Without God and His Word—revealed through inspired writers—we are left with no moral foundation beyond ourselves to distinguish right from wrong or truth from falsehood. And this, I believe, is one of the world’s deepest problems.

Why don’t I feel faith?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:44:05 +0000

Question:

Hello,

I have a question that I really have not been able to find answers to, and I do not dare to talk to anyone about it.

Several years ago, I started going to a church because I was really convinced that God was sending me to do it. I had a lot of anxiety in my life, and I started reading the Bible that year due to the anxiety I had. Little by little I began to convince myself about grace, to convince myself that I was a sinner, I even considered myself the worst, and I also believed that Christ was the most important thing and that only in him was salvation.

But this did not last more than two years. I was never sure of being saved. I always had an unhappy life thinking that I was not. One day, I asked God to make a big change in my life because I saw many things that were not right, like feelings of envy.

Since that day, everything has changed. I feel like everything has gone downhill in my life. I didn't even feel the conviction of sin. It's strange, but I didn't feel God, either. I didn't feel the same for Jesus, and I stopped trusting in him; I wouldn't dare say that I stopped believing.

This made me very anxious. I feel like I try to believe. I try to do it, but I don't "feel that faith." Every day I try, I try to have faith. I try to close my eyes and simply believe, believe in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, believe in what he did on the cross, but I don't know what happens. Little by little I start to have doubts, or days later the truth drives me crazy, I want to believe but I feel like it's hard for me to do it, sometimes I think that I was never saved, because I know that faith cannot be lost because the scripture says "But he who perseveres to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13) thinking that I could really stop believing.

I feel like I will never get out of this. I feel like I pray. I read the Bible. I have even fasted (not believing that this will bring me salvation) so that the Lord would allow me to have faith in His Son for salvation, and I feel like I have done everything, but God keeps me in this state. I don't want to blame God, but I don't know how to express myself anymore.

Also, if they ask me who Christ is for me, I wouldn't know how to answer, and before, I would have.

Please help me.

Thank you.

Answer:

All I see is a young woman who is making up her own religion and then is disappointed that she doesn't meet her own expectations.

You say you have read your Bible, so where did you find faith being described as a feeling? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith is the confidence you have in the things you look forward to and your certainty in things you have not seen. I have faith that Sydney, Australia, exists. I've never been there, so I have no first-hand experience with Sydney, yet I have complete confidence that it exists. Why? Because the evidence is strong. It isn't a feeling that comes and goes. I don't doubt that Sydney exists one day and sort of feel it is there another day.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). You read the evidence presented in the Bible and then decide if you believe the evidence is solid.

When you give control to your feelings, you make yourself your own God. However, the Bible points out that your feelings are an unreliable guide. "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26).

Salvation is not earned. God offers salvation to those who accept His requirements. See What Must I Do to be Saved?