Fact or Feeling? 

Let’s talk about one of the most confusing truths about our feelings: they don’t always tell us the truth. But wait, can that be right? Our feelings feel so real. They come from deep inside us, so they have to be true, right? Think again. As convincing as strong feelings can be, they aren’t always reliable. For example:   

• Some feelings make us feel bad when we should feel good; other feelings make us feel good when we should feel bad.   
• Some feelings misinterpret facts.   
• Some feelings only tell part of the story.   
• Some feelings exaggerate.   
• Some feelings tell outright lies.

Ugh. Those truths are kind of discouraging, aren’t they? It’s kind of like when you find out the good guy in a movie isn’t good at all, or when you find out that a friend you trusted isn’t your friend after all.

Let’s think about some times when our own feelings don’t tell us the truth. Have you ever experienced any of these situations?   

• You feel like a friend is mad at you, but she isn’t mad at you at all.   
• You feel like you failed a test, but you actually got a good grade.   
• You feel like life is terrible and won’t ever get any better, but once you get a good night’s sleep (and maybe something to eat!), you see that life isn’t that bad after all.

These situations remind us that our feelings don’t always tell the truth. Our feelings are not facts!

How does it change your life when you understand that feelings aren’t facts? It means you don’t have to be trapped by your feelings. It means you have power over your feelings. It puts you in the driver’s seat of your heart—you are in charge; you are steering the car—instead of your emotions. It gives you permission to step back from all you feel to ask yourself a simple question: I feel a certain way . . . but is this feeling true?

So how can we tell the difference between feelings and facts? I like to start by acknowledging my feelings, taking the time to identify them. I like to write my feelings down on paper because feelings can be hard to identify when they’re just floating around in a messy tangle inside your head and heart.

Then you assess your feelings. You take an honest, hard look at them. You don’t automatically assume that your feelings are right. You might need to line your feelings up next to the scriptures and ask yourself if they agree with God’s truth. 

So what if you realize that a feeling simply isn’t true? It’s time to say goodbye to that feeling: Get out of my head! I’m not listening to your lies anymore. I’m listening to facts and God’s Word instead. Then you give that feeling over to God in prayer, asking him to help you to think and feel differently. This frees you up to let it go and set your thoughts on other things. As Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).