Faith Over Feelings: Trusting God When Emotions Run High

Hi MumLeader!
Life is full of moments that stir our emotions; joy, sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, excitement. While emotions are a God-given part of our human experience, they were never meant to lead our lives. The problem begins when we allow our feelings to shape our faith instead of letting our faith guide our feelings.

In a world that often tells us to "follow your heart" or "trust your gut," the Bible invites us to a different way trusting God above all else, even when our emotions seem overwhelming.

Emotions Aren’t the Enemy but They’re Not the Guide

God created us with emotions. Jesus wept, rejoiced, grew angry, and even felt sorrowful unto death (Matthew 26:38). So feelings aren’t sinful or shameful. They’re signals, messengers that reveal what’s going on inside of us.

But here’s the problem: emotions make great indicators, but terrible leaders.

Your feelings can inform you, but they shouldn’t form your beliefs or your identity. Why? Because emotions are temporary. They shift with circumstances. One bad phone call, one harsh word, or one sleepless night can flip your mood upside down.

If we follow every emotional impulse, we become like ships without anchors tossed and turned by the winds of life.

But when we let faith in God’s Word anchor us, we gain stability, even in the emotional storms.

Don’t Let Temporary Feelings Create Permanent Damage

Let’s be honest: it’s easier to react emotionally than to respond prayerfully. A sharp word, a hasty decision, or a retreat into silence can feel right in the moment but leave lasting consequences.

That’s why Scripture says:

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)

God invites us to press pause before we respond to give our feelings time to settle, and His Spirit time to speak.

You don’t have to trust every emotion that comes your way. Not every feeling deserves a microphone in your life. Some emotions are simply invitations to turn to God, not to act out.

Faith Is Rooted in God’s Unchanging Truth

In emotional moments, we often think, “This feels so real, it must be true.” But not everything that feels true is true.

For example:

• You may feel abandoned, but God says, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)
  
  

• You may feel like a failure, but God says, “You are My workmanship.” (Ephesians 2:10)
  
  

• You may feel unloved, but God says, “Nothing can separate you from My love.” (Romans 8:39)

Faith reminds us to believe God more than our emotions.

Think of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14. As long as his eyes were on Jesus, he walked in confidence. But when he noticed the wind and waves, fear took over. His focus shifted from truth to feelings, and he began to sink.

Jesus caught him and said, “Why did you doubt?”

We often experience the same. When we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus on our emotional waves, we begin to sink. But the good news is: Jesus still reaches for us.

How to Choose Faith Over Feelings

1. Anchor Yourself in Scripture
   When emotions try to sweep you away, the Word of God anchors your soul. Memorize and meditate on key verses that remind you of God’s truth, especially in moments of emotional turbulence.
   

2. Pray Honestly
   Pour your heart out to God. He isn’t afraid of your feelings, He welcomes them. But don’t stop at venting; also ask Him to align your heart with His.
   

3. Surround Yourself with Godly Counsel
   When your perspective is clouded by emotion, trusted friends and mentors who are grounded in faith can speak truth into your life.
   

4. Pause Before Acting
   Emotions often push us to act quickly, but faith calls us to pause, pray, and proceed with wisdom.
   

5. Remember God’s Character
   When feelings change, God’s nature does not. He is faithful. He is good. He is near. He is working, even when you don’t feel it.

 Faith Isn’t a Feeling, It’s a Choice

When emotions are high, decisions become harder. That’s when we most need to pause, breathe, and remember this: faith is not about denying your feelings, it’s about choosing God’s way in spite of them.

Choosing faith over feelings isn’t always easy. It takes discipline, courage, and a willingness to trust what you know over what you feel. But the more you practice it, the stronger your faith becomes.

So today, whatever you’re feeling, whisper this simple prayer:

“God, I trust You more than I trust my feelings. Lead me in truth. Anchor me in Your Word. Remind me that You are faithful, even when I’m fragile.”

And then—breathe, rest, and remember:
He is near. He is good. And He is strong enough to carry both you and your emotions.

Free Resource to Help You Stay Grounded in Truth:

When emotions run high, it can be hard to remember what’s true. That’s why I created a free resource just for you: "Overcome with Truth: A Biblical Guide to Responding to Emotions God's Way." This printable chart pairs common emotions—like fear, anxiety, sadness, or loneliness—with powerful Bible verses that remind you of God’s promises. Keep it in your journal, Bible, or on your wall to help you overcome feelings with faith and stay anchored in truth, no matter how you feel.

Please share this post with all your dear friends and family, it will be a huge blessing to them!