Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Following Jesus in Real Life 10 Part Series: Ep 3 What If I Don't Feel Saved?

Transcript

Following Jesus in Real Life 10 Part Series: Ep 3 What If I Don't Feel Saved? · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

0:00
Following Jesus isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting God one step at a time.
0:07
Welcome to Following Jesus in Real Life, a special series from Half-Faith Let It Begin.
0:13
I'm Angel Santana. Together, we'll have honest conversations about faith,
0:19
doubt, hope, grace, and what it truly means to follow Christ,
0:24
not just on Sundays, but every single day.
0:27
Half-Faith Let It Begin starts right now.
0:36
Welcome to Half-Faith Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
0:40
Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
0:46
Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
0:52
2000 came and the spark was lit. The testimony raw, it wouldn't quit His mother's voice, a god.
1:26
Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to Have Faith, Let It Begin. I'm Angel Santana.
1:31
Today, we're talking about one of the most personal questions a believer can
1:36
ask. Let me adjust my seat here, or I'm real time.
1:39
What if I don't feel saved? That's right.
1:43
Maybe you've had a bad week. Maybe you've stumbled into an old habit.
1:48
Maybe you've doubted. Maybe you've prayed and wondered why you don't feel close to God anymore.
1:54
If you ever questioned where you stand with God, you're not alone.
1:58
So we're going to talk about it.
2:00
Our feelings are powerful. And some days we wake up full of joy.
2:05
Other days we wake up discouraged. Our emotions can change from one hour to the next.
2:12
The problem comes when we allow our changing emotions to become the measure
2:16
of God's unchanging love.
2:19
If we only believe God is with us when we feel him, we'll spend our lives on
2:24
a spiritual rollercoaster.
2:26
Hmm, let's talk about that. There is a difference between feelings and faith.
2:32
See, feelings are real, but they aren't always reliable.
2:36
Faith is choosing to trust God's promises even when our emotions tell us a different story.
2:43
There will be days when your heart feels distant. There'll be days when prayers feel difficult.
2:51
And there'll be days when worship doesn't move you the way it once did.
2:57
These emotions don't automatically mean God has abandoned you.
3:01
They haven't abandoned us. He hasn't abandoned us. Sometimes they simply remind
3:04
us to lean on his promises instead of his, well, instead of our emotions.
3:10
Let's look at a biblical perspective. Throughout scripture, we find believers
3:15
who experienced many months of doubt, fear, uncertainty.
3:23
Thomas struggled until he saw the rise in Christ.
3:29
Peter failed after boldly declaring his loyalty. Yet Jesus didn't give up on
3:35
either one of them. He restored them.
3:37
The gospel reminds us that our confidence rests in what Christ has done,
3:43
not in our ability to feel spiritually strong every day.
3:47
Our hope is anchored in God's faithfulness.
3:51
Let me give you a personal perspective.
3:54
I've learned that faith isn't measured by how emotional a worship service feels.
3:59
Or how inspired I wake up each morning.
4:02
Because there have been days when prayer came easily. And there have also been
4:06
days when the only prayer I could whisper was, Lord, please help me.
4:12
What have I discovered? What I've discovered is that God doesn't stop loving
4:16
me on the days my faith feels weak.
4:19
In fact, those are often the days I discover how faithful He really is.
4:24
So how do we live this out? If you're struggling today, don't isolate yourself.
4:30
Stay connected to God's word. Stay connected to prayer. Stay connected to your church family.
4:36
Sometimes we don't feel strong enough to stand alone.
4:40
That's the one reason God gave us one another.
4:43
Keep taking the next faithful step.
4:46
Even when your emotions are uncertain, your obedience can remain steady.
4:51
So here's your faith challenge. Today, instead of asking, how do I feel?
4:57
Ask yourself, what has God promised?
5:01
Write down one promise from scripture that reminds you of God's faithfulness.
5:05
Return to it whenever doubt begins to speak louder than truth.
5:10
Here's a thought, here's a thought. Your relationship with God isn't about built.
5:16
How can I rephrase this?
5:19
Your relationship with God isn't built on feelings it's built on his grace because
5:24
feelings come and go and God's promises they remain so if today you don't feel saved.
5:33
Don't stop seeking him. Keep praying. Keep trusting.
5:38
Keep following. His love is deeper than your emotions and his faithfulness is
5:44
greater than your doubts.
5:47
Amen. Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for the love that
5:51
does not rise and fall with our emotions.
5:56
When we're uncertain, remind us of your promises. When we are discouraged, strengthen our hearts.
6:02
Help us place our confidence in you.
6:06
Help us place our confidence in who you are instead of how we feel.
6:16
Thank you for your grace, Lord, your patience, and your unfailing love.
6:21
And teach us to walk by faith, trusting you each and every day.
6:26
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
6:28
Well, here's today's takeaway. way. Feelings may change, but God's promises never do.
6:34
Thank you for joining me for episode three of Following Jesus in Real Life.
6:38
Remember, your hope isn't anchored in your emotions. It's anchored in the faithfulness of God.
6:44
So keep walking, keep trusting, keep believing, and never forget,
6:52
have faith, let it begin.
6:55
Coming up next, episode four, Comparison is killing your calling.
6:59
Stop looking sideways and start walking forward. We're gonna explore how comparing
7:04
ourselves to others can distract us from the unique purpose God has for each
7:09
of us and how freedom begins when we stop measuring our journey against someone else's.
7:15
Till next time, God bless. Have faith.
7:23
Let it begin.