Faith and Feelings

[BlackJack774]

Faith and Feelings

Feeling, Faith, and Fact are three men walking along the top of a wall.

As long as Faith keeps it’s eyes on Fact in front of him,

All three keep walking.

When Faith takes his eyes off of Fact to turns around to worry about how Feeling is doing, both Faith and Feeling fall off the wall, but Fact never does.

Faith produces feelings. Faith is not the product of our feelings. Faith comes from the “I Believe” we profess as believers in the Facts! And we as Christians believe in the Facts that:

God in the form of Jesus took on human flesh, fully divine and fully human, and dwelt among us.
He died on a cross for the redemption of all of mankind.
He rouse from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, the all mighty, interceding on our behalf.
And from there he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

God Bless,
BJ774

 

[Scoobyshme]

Faith and Feelings

Feeling, Faith, and Fact are three men walking along the top of a wall.

As long as Faith keeps it’s eyes on Fact in front of him,

All three keep walking.

When Faith takes his eyes off of Fact to turns around to worry about how Feeling is doing, both Faith and Feeling fall off the wall, but Fact never does.

Faith produces feelings. Faith is not the product of our feelings. Faith comes from the “I Believe” we profess as believers in the Facts! And we as Christians believe in the Facts that:

God in the form of Jesus took on human flesh, fully divine and fully human, and dwelt among us.
He died on a cross for the redemption of all of mankind.
He rouse from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, the all mighty, interceding on our behalf.
And from there he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

God Bless,
BJ774

Blackjack, excellent post!

That’s why I always worry about folks (and I’ve known many) whose faith is emotion-based. What happens when the “good feeling” stops? Do they lose interest and return to their worldly ways, then?

I usually tell folks that when they get the “good feeling” from praying, attending Mass, etc., then that’s God’s gift to them. However, when they pray, attend Mass, etc., when they really don’t “feel” like it…then that’s their gift to God.

God gives us inner consolation when He thinks we need it. Like trying to teach a baby to walk. At first, we hold its hands and teach it to put one foot in front of the other. Eventually, though, the goal is for them to walk alone, unaided. The same can be said, in a sense, for our spiritual life. Once the “honeymoon” of conversion is over, do we still love God and try to do His will, even if we don’t “feel” it? That’s the challenge.

 

[Joe_5859]

I recall hearing this anecdote before. Do you know the source? I can’t remember.

 

[nickybr38]

I met many, many Protestants in my time who were struggling with their faith because they didn’t ‘feel’ happy and everything they were ever told taught them that when you’re a true Christian you are happy.

My heart aches for those folks. Then and now.

I just want to find them and tell them: Faith is not feeling.

But I didn’t know that then and I don’t know them now so all I can do is pray.

 

[BlackJack774]

I recall hearing this anecdote before. Do you know the source? I can’t remember.

The anecdote is from the Luke E. Hart series “What Catholics Believe” Book One Faith. You can find in on the Knights of Columbus website under Know Your Faith Tab, Catholic Information Services. A wonderful source of information and teachings about the faith! AND ITS 100% FREE!

Hope that helped.

God bless you and your family!

 

[Joe_5859]

The anecdote is from the Luke E. Hart series “What Catholics Believe” Book One Faith. You can find in on the Knights of Columbus website under Know Your Faith Tab, Catholic Information Services. A wonderful source of information and teachings about the faith! AND ITS 100% FREE!

Hope that helped.

God bless you and your family!

Thanks!

 

[BlackJack774]

I met many, many Protestants in my time who were struggling with their faith because they didn’t ‘feel’ happy and everything they were ever told taught them that when you’re a true Christian you are happy.

My heart aches for those folks. Then and now.

I just want to find them and tell them: Faith is not feeling.

But I didn’t know that then and I don’t know them now so all I can do is pray.

“God did not put me here to be successful, but to be faithful.” –Mother Terresa

It is when we don’t feel anything because we are in hard times, when things are not going according to our plans, when we aren’t successful, when we’re just not happy, that our prayers count the most, because it is at that time that we show God truly we believe. St Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight” You ever notice that when you pray you close your eyes. Why is that?

Jesus said to (Doubting) St. Thomas, “…Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Believe and know that you are blessed! Jesus said it, I believe it, and that does it!

God bless,

 

[Dennislp3]

Faith and Love are to things that people seem to struggle with because they are blind by feelings…sadly I think this due in part to people who walk around wanting to convert everyone…and then not follow up. Media destroys what true love is and it does a good job at smearing faith as well. I know feelings involved with God (eg good feelings produced at certain times) are very rarely talked about. So when people get these feelings they are not directed towards the fact that they are temporary.