But what about when we just aren't feeling it? What if we are living this life of faith and we feel we are doing it just because that's what we're supposed to do?
Sometimes that's the way it is. Sometimes when we follow God we might not be feeling it inside but we do the right thing anyway. That's what a life of faith looks and feels like in some seasons of life.
In Deuteronomy 7:9 it says, "'Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.'"
That is an incredible promise. We obey not just for our sakes but for our children and their children (and so on and so on). In the verse above it doesn't say anything about feeling a certain way. We obey because we know it is the right thing to do because our Father God has commanded us to do.
Our emotions can be all over the place. We will be up and down and sideways and frontways and backwards in our emotions. That's why we can't base our faith on them. Our relationship with Christ must be steady. If we rely on Him, on His words He has given us, that relationship will be steady. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, "And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."
This principle applies to our earthy relationships too. I might be irritated with one of my children but I still do what I need to do for that child so she will grow and mature and become the woman God created her to be. And there may be a time you are not happy with your spouse. What do you do with that? You continue to love your spouse and ask God to help you work it out. My husband and I don't argue much at all, but when there have been arguments I walk away and I pray for God to restore our relationship. And He always does because that is His will.
Emotions can be a huge blessing. They are gifts from God. Don't let them run your life though. They will mess it up big time. You need to direct your emotions. They're powerful so it isn't easy but it is so very necessary.