LEARNING FAITH ABOVE FEELINGS

The faith of believers in the Lord God may be affected by different trials in life. However, the biblical word of God says: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). And the Bible also says believers should “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). For our learning and encouragement, the scriptures of the Bible provides examples of people who learned to walk by faith in God above their feeling (Romans 15:4; Hebrews 11)

ELIJAH A PROPHET OF GOD LEARNED TO WALK BY FAITH

The prophet Elijah demonstrated strong faith and feelings of elation when God answered his prayer in a contest with prophets of a god named Baal.  At Elijah’s request, God rained down fire from heaven to consumed a sacrificial offering of Elijah, to convince the people of Israel that he was the true God. The prophets of Baal failed in their attempts to get Baal to consume their offering (1 Kings 18:16-40). 

Later Elijah manifested a weakening of faith,  and showed feelings of depression when he was being sought by Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, whose god was Baal. Fearing Jezebel’s power to kill him more than trusting God ‘s power to protect him, Elijah ran away and hid (1 Kings 19:1-10). 

The Lord appeared to Elijah and convinced him that God was in control of the things the prophet was worried about. He instructed Elijah to anoint leaders to dethrone Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 19:15-18).

JOHN WHO BAPTISTED JESUS CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, LEARNED TO WALK BY FAITH. 

When John baptized Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” John was full of faith and feeling privileged to announce God’s promised Messianic Savior to the world—John cried out loud: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29; Isaiah 53:5-6).

 But when John was imprisoned for speaking out against the sins of King Herod, feeling depressed, John wondered if Jesus was really the promised Messiah. John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting or should we keep looking for someone else” (Luke 7:19NLT).

Apparently, John was not aware of what we and Jesus’ disciples later learned: “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Nevertheless, to restore and strengthen John’s faith, Jesus told John’s messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[ are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Luke 7:21-23)

 JESUS CHRIST LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM THE THINGS HE SUFFERED.

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
The Son of God loved mankind enough to come into the world to die for us. Yet, when Jesus was faced with the agony of dying on the cross for the sins of the world while being forsaking by God the Father, Jesus was confronted by his human feelings, and he prayed: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42-43). God enabled him to overcome the human aspect of his feelings to accomplish God’s will (John 19:28).

WE TOO LEARN TO WALK BY FAITH ABOVE FEELINGS.

Many and varied are our afflictions and trials. Nevertheless,  for our learning and encouragement to walk by faith above feelings, the Bible gives us reports of many who faced difficult trials in this life, and learn to overcame them by faith in God (Hebrews 11). Yet, the Bible primarily encourages us to fix our “eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

The biblical word of God teaches that if our faith is challenged from suffering for the sake of the Lord, we can pray to God like he did. “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God  will strengthen us by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (John 14:15-17; Acts 1:8). And we too shall overcome the world and reign with the Lord in heaven forever (2 Timothy 2:12).