Think of standing on a frozen lake, fully convinced the ice is thick and solid because that’s how it feels beneath your boots, when in reality, it’s thin and cracking. Your feelings didn’t change the danger because they are simply not a reliable measure of what’s real, right?
So how do we know what is true and, therefore, reliable?
First, we must understand there are two levels of truth: Spiritual truth and physical truth. We tend to think of “truth” as something scientific, measurable, and provable in a lab. But spiritual truth is even more real than science, and it does not change based on how we feel. Jesus was direct about where spiritual truth comes from:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)
Truth is found in the Person of Jesus—in a relationship. The proof that we have this relationship with the truth is in how we love.
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
The amazing thing is that God graciously reveals the truth of Himself to everyone! The Bible gives us three examples of how He does this.
First, CREATION itself reveals truth—truth we can observe.
We don’t need a Bible in our hands to recognize that God’s presence is revealed all around us.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
The writer of Hebrews adds an even deeper layer to this. By faith, we know that the visible world we can touch was not itself formed out of other visible things—it was supernatural.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)
Every sunrise and every intricate cell is a declaration of the truth of the existence of a Creator that is embedded into the fabric of creation itself. This is precisely why the physical realm and the spiritual realm cannot be treated as equals—the physical realm is temporary and passing, while the spiritual realm is eternal and lasts forever. It deserves far more of our attention than we typically give it. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enables us to perceive with the mind of Christ, and we can be guided by truth—irrespective of how we feel!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
Second, our very DESIGN points us toward a truth greater than our own perception.
We were made in the image of God.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
A glove, by itself, sitting on a table, is useless. It has shape, but no strength, no grip, and no ability to accomplish anything. It was designed for a hand. Once a hand slides inside it, the glove suddenly has purpose, power, and capability it never had on its own. Similarly, we were designed for a relationship with God. Apart from Him, we can still function in the physical realm, but we are operating far below the capacity we were built for—and we are left relying on fickle feelings to navigate reality.
Being created in God’s image also reveals why certain things feel so instinctively, undeniably true even before anyone teaches us to believe them. We innately crave justice. We innately long to love and be loved. We innately sense that we deserve certain rights and certain dignity. Where does that come from? It comes from being made in the image of a God who is just, loving, and righteous. Our design itself is a testimony to the truth of Jesus.
Third, God gives us DIRECT REVELATION, so we are never left to rely solely on what we feel or see.
Beyond creation and beyond our design, God simply tells us what is true. He doesn’t leave us to guess or piece it together from our emotions or circumstances.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
I wasn’t there in the beginning. None of us were. I can’t verify with my own eyes how the universe began or what happened in the garden. I can’t rely on my own feelings to reconstruct it. But I know what God says, and I know that He does not lie.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good.” (Numbers 23:19)
That settles it for me. Why? Well, not because I’ve personally witnessed every claim Scripture makes or because it aligns with how I feel on a given day, but because the character of God is trustworthy beyond question.
Here is why all of this matters so critically.
Our world has abandoned truth in favor of feelings and it is plunging our culture into chaos. Abandoning God’s truth in favor of feelings or circumstances isn’t just an intellectual mistake. It leads to slavery—individually and culturally. Jesus promises us freedom.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (John 8:32)
Freedom is directly tied to truth—God’s truth, not our feelings about it. Which means the reverse is also true—rejecting God’s truth leads to bondage. Jesus doesn’t soften this warning:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
When we live according to what we feel rather than what God has spoken—about ourselves, about Him, about morals, and how to live—we are living in the enemy’s camp, and it produces exactly what you’d expect from this big fat liar: anxiety, instability, and fear. But it’s actually worse than that! Paul describes the horrible end of a culture when people knowingly suppress the truth available to them in favor of their feelings:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who SUPPRESS the TRUTH in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are CLEARLY seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…” Romans 1:18-25, 28-32
Does this not sound like a description of our culture today?
That word “exchanged” implies we’ve traded something of infinite value—truth from God Himself—for something destructive: our own feelings, our own perception, and the very version of reality our enemy has sold us. We swapped reality for illusion, and we called it a fair deal. It’s tragic!
Living by truth means refusing that exchange. It means recognizing that our feelings are not reliable guides for life—only God is. We can trust His Word—He proved Himself by His sacrifice. We can trust His nature irrespective of how we feel.
The freedom we desire is only found when the Prince of Peace—not our feelings—is Master of every room of our lives!
Prayer
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself through creation, through the way You designed me in Your image, and through Your direct Word, so I never have to rely on how I feel. Free me from every version of reality I’ve constructed from my own feelings, and anchor my mind firmly in Your Word so that I can walk in the freedom and peace only You provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
