When Feelings Bring Loss of Faith

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction: Facts or Feelings: Faith or Failure. 

Genuine faith involves repentance, humility, obedience, and speaking truth in uncomfortable situations. These aspects of faith refresh, restore, and deepen our faith in Christ. 

But they aren't always easy or comfortable. If we based our actions on feelings, we'd never do these things.

An article based on psychological studies showed that people are happier when they deny their wrong doing than when they confess it and repent. See People Who Never Apologize Are Probably Happier Than You.

They may be happier, but they aren't healthier and they aren't sincere Christ-followers.

Repentance is more than mere words:

See The True Meaning of Repentance and 6 Aspects of Godly Forgiveness.

God wants us to feel ashamed of our sins: 

James 4:6-10: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

See Shame Leads to Grace.

God is close to those who genuinely repent: 

Isaiah 57:15: “For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Everyday we choose to follow our feelings or follow God:

Joshua 24:14-15: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua made this statement with the Jews entered the Promised Land. They were being tempted to follow pagan gods. 

What types of gods tempt modern mankind?

What makes serving the Lord undesirable to some people? 

Why do some professing Christians “reconstruct” their faith to make a god in their own image? 

What choice have you and your household made?

copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2015, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2026

A Short Bible Study on Empathy

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute devotion Lack of Empathy.

 

Lack of empathy is a growing problem in our world. It's becoming more and more normal for people to focus on themselves without consideration for others. No wonder we see so much brokenness in marriage, family, and workplace relationships.

In contradiction to culture, God has always emphasized empathy and consideration (Philippians 2:3-4; Galatians 6:2-3).

Let's take a look at some other Scriptures on this subject:

1. Romans 12:15: "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep."

Jealousy and selfishness keep some people from rejoicing with those who rejoice. And self-righteousness or disinterest lead keep people from comforting those who are going through difficulties.

See Job's Judgmental Friends and Rejoice and Mourn.

Sometimes we have empathy for our friends who are suffering, but we don't know how to comfort them. These 1-minute devotions can help: She Didn't Know What to Say, 3 Ways to Comfort, and Think Inside the Box.

2. Galatians 5:14: For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

This passage is similar to the old adage that tells us not to judge others until we Walk a Mile in their Moccasins. This doesn't mean that we must experience the exact situation to empathize with others, but we must at least try to imagine how we might feel in the same situation.

3. 1 Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 

We need to be sensitive to other people's needs, stresses, responsibilities, and weaknesses. 

Empathy is the "Golden Rule" attitude that helps us share and understand the feelings of others. For example, a good parent thinks about how they would feel if they were their child, and they punish their child appropriately and lovingly. A good adult child thinks how they would feel if they were their parents, and they treat their parents with the respect and attention they would want from their grown children.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2026

 

 

Choices Dramatically Impact Our Lives

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction:

Culture Loves Choices. God Loves Truth.

We can be so grateful that our God makes it clear that some choices are wrong and harmful and some are right and helpful. 

His commands protect our hearts and souls.

1. The following passages offer Biblical insights on choice:

Bad choices are often based on occult, worldly, or selfish desires.

Joshua 24:15: “If you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” NLT   

Bad choices often seem right because they are self-serving.

Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” NIV  

Bad choices are often based on jealousy and personal attempts to promote ourselves at another person's expense as Cain did to Abel.

Genesis 4:6-7: “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” ESV  

Bad choices are part of our fallen human nature that opposes God. Wise choices are part of our renewal in Christ and our understanding that all of His commands are loving, purposeful, and helpful.

John 14:21: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” ESV

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2026