Faith Isn't A Feeling, It's a Foundation
There are times in our walk with God where we might find ourselves quietly wondering: “Isn’t there more? Is there something else I could be doing to feel closer to Him?” Maybe you’ve asked that before—maybe in a season where Bible reading feels like a task, or your heart feels dull in prayer. You’re seeking, hungering for something deeper. That longing isn’t wrong—but how we answer it matters deeply.
In our recent Diving Deeper conversation with Pastor Will, we unpacked this tension. As we talked about spiritual practices—Bible study, prayer, worship—we couldn’t help but return again and again to one core truth: God has already given us all we need to know Him. His Word is sufficient. Not only is it enough—it is the best thing for our soul.
“Is There Something More?”
When we feel spiritually dry or disconnected, our instinct is often to look for some emotional high or extraordinary experience to jumpstart our faith. We might think, “If I could just have one big ‘God moment,’ then I’d be all in again.” But this yearning, while honest, can point us in the wrong direction. Pastor Will reminded us of the parable Jesus tells in Luke 16—about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man, in torment, begs for someone to rise from the dead and warn his family. Abraham replies: “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29, ESV). In other words: they already have Scripture. That is enough.
It’s a gentle but necessary correction: we don’t need more than the Word of God. We need more of the Word of God.
When You Don’t “Feel It”
We also talked about those days where reading the Bible feels like a chore or prayer feels dry. It’s not always a spiritual high—and that’s okay. Our emotions are real, but they’re not reliable indicators of God’s nearness or His love. If we measured our marriages or friendships by our feelings alone, we’d constantly misread the relationship. Feelings ebb and flow. But truth stands firm.
God’s Word is the one unchanging foundation in our ever-shifting world. On days when we feel distant or distracted, instead of waiting for the “feeling” to come, we press in. We chew on the Word. Like the Psalms say:
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103, ESV)
It’s in the chewing—in the slow, prayerful, faithful return to Scripture—that our hearts are softened, stirred, and strengthened. Even when we don’t feel like it.
Emotion Follows Truth
A big takeaway for me during this conversation was this: emotions are not the enemy—but they are not the guide either. When we try to base our relationship with God on how we feel, we lose sight of the deeper, solid truths that anchor us. Instead of letting feelings drive the car, we let God’s Word take the wheel. Our feelings can ride in the backseat, sure—but they don’t get to steer.
Pastor Will said it so well: if you’re not feeling particularly close to God, that’s not a reason to avoid the Word—that’s a reason to run toward it. When your heart feels cold or indifferent, don’t let that keep you from God’s truth. Let that feeling be the reminder that you need to go back to what is true, what is eternal, what is unshakable.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:8, ESV)
Choose the Word Again and Again
God isn’t asking us to find some new, emotional mountain-top moment. He’s asking us to trust that what He’s already said—what He’s already given—is more than enough. His Word reveals who He is, what He’s done, and how much He loves us. That’s the foundation. That’s the anchor. And that’s where true intimacy begins—not in chasing a feeling, but in drawing near to the God who has already drawn near to us through His Son.
Let’s not despise the simplicity of God’s provision. Instead, let’s rejoice in it.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Two Major Takeaways:
God’s Word is sufficient and unchanging. We don’t need to seek emotional experiences or new revelations to grow closer to Him—He has already spoken, and His Word is enough.
Faithfulness matters more than feelings. On days when you feel distant or disconnected, choose to press into God’s truth anyway. Your emotions will follow where truth leads.
Check out the whole podcast here!
Keep going, friends. Stay rooted in the Word. Even on the dry days, even in the quiet moments—He is there. And His Word will never fail you.
