One of the hardest things to do as a Christian is live by the truth of God’s words and not by our feelings. I have a Christian friend who was always telling me that feelings were just feelings – nothing more – by which he meant that they could not necessarily be trusted. This used to infuriate me because my feelings were very real and I felt very reliable. The truth is feelings are important but they are also very unreliable and should not just be used as an indication of how things are.
I have found on many occasions when I have felt that something was not right between me and someone else, the best thing is to ask them if something is wrong. Frequently there is nothing wrong; it was just my feelings misleading me. Occasionally there is something amiss but if we talk about it we can be put things right and iron out any misunderstandings. The devil would much prefer we live in the midst of muddles and misunderstandings, and grievances real or imagined. He does not want us living in the truth and especially with regard to our relationship with God. This is because as we walk in the truth of who God is and who we are, chains of rejection, hurt, bitterness, resentment, unfulfilled ambitions, grief and so on fall off and we are set free to know that God’s love is very real and very reliable.
If there is one truth we need to really get hold of it is that God only wants good things for his children. Which father arranges horrible things for his child? This does not mean God will not discipline us but he does this 'as a Father who delights in us' not because he is a mean, nit-picking disciplinarian. He does it because he wants us to walk in freedom not bound by sin, either ours or another’s or its consequences. Jesus said, ‘which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’ Matthew 7: 9 – 11.
God wants good things for his children and God works good things for his children. As Mark Stibbe says, ‘he is the world’s greatest dad’. Whenever you catch yourself thinking or feeling something negative about God, stop. Replace that thought with a new thought about the goodness of God. It is literally life transforming – for you!
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