Why don’t I feel God?

Question:

Hello,

I'm 15 and I have accepted Christ. You see I always say I'm sorry for my sins. But my friend told me that when he repented he could feel God in him like all of him was being hugged like a warm feeling. I don't understand. Why haven't I felt that? I always ask for forgiveness and always try to do as God asks and follow His rules. But I've never really felt God. What am I doing wrong? I really want to feel Him and be able to feel He is always listening to me, even though I know He always is.

Please help.

Answer:

Feelings come from our response to our environment. When you do something good for another person and you know you helped him out, then you have a good feeling inside of you. But it would be a mistake to assume that the good feeling proves you did the right thing. Feelings can easily be manipulated. "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26).

So how do you know if you have done what is right? "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). The Bible talks about the feelings that come from knowing you have pleased the Lord, but it never talks about the feelings as being evidence that God is pleased with what you have done. Your friend trusts his feelings. I would rather that you be wise and trust what God said. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

One of the difficulties that I have is that what you've told me doesn't line up with what God said you need to do to be one of His children. It sounds as if you have started the journey, but you have done all that God requires. See:

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