The Life of Faith (Pt. 5) - Faith Over Feelings: Navigating Contrary Spiritual Realities
Last week, we looked at how to navigate contrary physical realities through examples like Peter, Paul, and Moses. This week, we shift from physical to spiritual realities in the topic: Faith Over Feelings—Navigating Contrary Spiritual Realities.
Our anchor text, Romans 10:9–10, reminds us that salvation comes by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. This is proof that faith is of the heart.
A while back, we also discussed on the topic “The Complete Man”, that Man is made of a visible part (body) and invisible parts (soul and spirit). With that as a reference, this message explains how the soul and spirit interact in the context of faith. It also explains how we can navigate tension between them.
Interaction between Soul and Spirit
As believers—regenerate people—our interaction with the Father happens through our spirit. The Bible tells us in John 4:24 that God is Spirit, and it’s through our spirit that we connect with Him. This is where our conscience lives, and where we commune with God.
In 1 Corinthians 2:11–12, one of the key texts in this series, the Bible says, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?... Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” So the things God has freely given us are received by our spirit. That’s where the divine exchange happens—between God’s Spirit and our spirit.
Now while our spirit is the place where faith interacts with the divine, we also have a soul, which is the other invisible part of us. The soul is where our mind, reasoning, and emotions live—our thoughts, preferences, and feelings. Though these are unseen, they are very real, and they play a big role in how we navigate life in this world.
In other words, our spirit connects with God and receives from Him. Whereas our soul is where we wrestle with understanding, emotions, and choices. This tension—between spirit and soul—is what we’re learning to navigate by faith.
Faith is of the Heart
Faith is of the heart—not the physical organ. 1 Peter 3:4 refers to it as “the hidden person of the heart”. A part of our unseen inner man. Romans 10:9–10 says we’re saved by believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths. Ephesians 2:8–9 and Romans 12:3 also show that salvation is by grace through faith, and each of us has been given a measure of it.
Often, we receive a word from God, but our thoughts—shaped by feelings and circumstances—begin to conflict with what we believe. That doesn’t mean we’re out of faith. As Kenneth Hagin said, “Faith will work in your heart even with doubt in your head”. The real danger is when doubt changes our confession.
Matthew 6:21 reminds us that our words are our treasure. If our confession starts following our emotions, our heart can drift. Proverbs 3:5 shows the distinction clearly: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”
We must learn to separate our spirit from our thoughts. You can feel doubt and still choose faith. As FF Bosworth said, “If you want to doubt something, doubt your doubts—they're unreliable.” So ask yourself: What has a better track record—my feelings or God’s Word?
Navigating Contrary Spiritual Realities
When navigating contrary spiritual realities—the tension between the heart (spirit) and the mind (soul), one receives truth by faith; the other wrestles with thoughts and feelings. The enemy uses our thoughts to make us question our faith. But having doubts in your head doesn’t cancel what you’ve believed in your heart. So the question is: How do we override feelings that don’t align with our faith?
Thanksgiving
Thank God for what you’ve already received in your spirit. Like David said, “I will praise You because You have done it.” Even if reality looks different, thank Him because His will and power are already available. There is no gap between what God wills and His power to perform it.
Meditating on God’s Word
Whatever you’ve seen—through Scripture, revelation, or teaching—keep meditating on it. Hebrews 4:12 says the Word discerns between soul and spirit. It scans you, revealing and removing what doesn’t align with truth. Meditation rewires your mind to match what your spirit has already received. It helps you override contrary thoughts and stay grounded in faith. Think of M.R.I. for meditation:
Mutter – Speak the Word out loud.
Ruminate – Think deeply about it.
Imagine – Visualize God's promises being fulfilled in your life.
Again remember, faith will work in your heart even with doubt in your head. This truth should bring freedom.