How To Believe God's Promises Even When You Don't Feel Like It

Have you ever come across pieces of encouragement when you’re hurting or disappointed, but the encouragement just wouldn’t sink in because you felt so crappy? Me too, girl. Me too. Dealing with your feelings is never easy. It can be so easy and so tempting to let our feelings overshadow what we know is true.

For instance, earlier this year I was sitting on my bed reading my Bible just a few short weeks after I went through a devastating breakup. As I sat there reading, I came across several verses that were perfectly applicable to what I was going through at that point. These bits of encouragement were exactly what I needed to hear. But instead of clinging to the promises in these verses, I was paying way more attention to my feelings. And in doing so, I caught myself saying things like:

“Lord, I know you say you work all things together for good, but this doesn’t feel good right now.”

“God, I know you say you never leave me or forsake me, but I feel so lonely.”

“Lord, I know you say you refresh my soul and guide me along the right path, but I feel the furthest thing from refreshed and this is not the path I wanted to walk.”

I was letting my feelings and my emotions convince me that there was more truth to what my circumstances said about God than what Scripture said about God. I began to buy into the lie that nothing good could possibly come out of this horrible situation. I took my loneliness as a sign that God was far away from me in my pain. And I determined there was no way that the unwanted path I was now walking would ever out-do the path I had been skipping down just a few weeks prior.

I allowed my feelings to overshadow what I knew deep down was true.

Deep down, I knew God loved me. I knew He had a plan and purpose behind every one of my circumstances. I knew He was always faithful and always compassionate. And I knew He was never far away from me, no matter how much I tried to distance myself from everyone, including Him.

Now don’t get me wrong. I didn’t just pay attention to my feelings for five minutes and then snap back into thinking through the lens of the truth. No, it took a while. It took several gentle nudges from the Lord as I read Romans 12 to be reminded of the importance of renewing my mind. Verse 2 says this:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (NIV)

In other words, take the lies that your flesh is telling you and replace them with the truth of God’s Word. It’s not always easy, and it takes some practice. But you will be amazed to see the peace and the comfort you feel from practicing this spiritual discipline.

Once I began to be intentional about renewing my mind, I took those statements I previously made and switched them around, saying:

“Lord, I know this heartbreak doesn’t feel good right now, but I know you say that you work all things together for the good of those who love you and who are called according to your purpose.”

“Lord, I feel so lonely right now, but I know you promise to never leave me or forsake me, so I’m going to hold you to that.”

“God, this isn’t the path I wanted to walk, but I know you say that you will guide me along the right path, so I’m trusting You in that.”

Just the simple switch in the way I viewed the truth versus my feelings made the biggest difference as I drew near to the Lord in my pain and disappointment. And the same can be true for you as well.

I would like to encourage you, sweet friend, the next time you’re tempted to buy into your feelings more than you hold onto the truth, take those thoughts captive. Remind yourself of God’s promises. Say them out loud to yourself. Renew your mind with His Word, and rest in the peace that comes as you draw near to One who calls Himself the Truth.