Faith is STILL Not a Feeling

+JMJ+

I don't even know when I first heard the phrase, "Faith is not a feeling." Yet, years later...the dictum still rings true.

Funny, I've been to several retreats, and upon returning home experienced the "retreat LOW." I didn't think after coming back from CREDO in Ohio this weekend that I'd get another "retreat LOW."

Whereas in the past the temptation is to doubt the graces of the retreat, doubt God's plan for my life, this time it is just a general feelings of anxiety and being unsettled. I realized that this, too, can be a form of temptation to doubt grace after a retreat. Unlike times in the past, I recognized this as a temptation to doubt the grace...and what a blessing!

Of course, accepting that faith, indeed, is not a feeling is a challenge. Recognizing that feeling like junk doesn't mean God has 'left' the picture is also a challenge. In that challenge, I am seeing some of my own faults that I haven't seen as clearly before--seeing my own sinfulness and knowing that I need to work on detaching from the things that keep me from growing closer to God!

+++++++

I received a special gift today when I got home, that reminded me of God's love. I live with a family, and when I got home, I discovered that Kelly was making my favorite dinner! Not only that, but later on in the evening little Benedict gave me a huge hug and his baby sister was sharing smiles and laughter with all of us!

Sure, life is never perfect, and we are not always going to have that 'feeling' we want when it comes to faith and prayer. But, God is still there...

“He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still sufficient for you, even then. And then, on through all eternity.”

~Thomas à Kempis