Stretch out with your feelings . . . Let go of your conscious self and act on instinct.” That was the encouragement that wise, old Obi-Wan Kenobi gave to young Luke Skywalker in the movie Star Wars. The force would be with Luke and all would be well.

“Let your feelings be your guide. Do what feels right.” That is also the mantra of our world today. How do you know what is the right job, right spouse, right church for you? Let go of all your questions about what is right. Simply go with your feelings. Do it because it feels right.

In a world where many believe that absolute truth no longer exists, our feelings become our guide. Books, videos, seminars, and television talk shows proclaim the same message. But is that such a good idea?

My feelings change from day to day. Some days I feel happy. Some days I feel sad. Some days I feel like pizza. Some days I feel like hamburgers. Sometimes I’m depressed and don’t feel like making any kind of decision. As fickle humans, our feelings are always changing. As sinful humans, our feelings are stained with selfishness and doubt.

A woman once came to me in tears. “I don’t feel God’s presence in my heart anymore,” she said. “I am going to hell. God must have deserted me.” I asked if she knew that Jesus died for her sins. She said, “Yes.” I asked if she was sorry for her sins and trusted that God had forgiven her because of Jesus’ sacrifice. She replied, “Yes.”  “Then you are saved,” I told her, “no matter what you feel.”

Our feelings do not change anything that God has already done. As an old seminary professor once told me, “To hell with your feelings.”

Our feelings can betray us. Sometimes we truly feel the overwhelming joy of salvation and the warming presence of our God. But some days, God feels far off. He seems to hide his face, and we feel the dark stare of the world around us. Thankfully, my roller coaster of emotions—how I feel—does not change the fact that Jesus died for me, that God is with me, and that I have heaven.

Faith is the knowledge and trust in Jesus as my Savior. Faith is not a feeling. At times my faith produces the feelings of sorrow, regret, joy, and satisfaction. But as a sinful human being, my feelings cannot always be trusted.

And there’s one more thing. Just because I feel something is right doesn’t make it right. Sadly, many today make decisions about such important things as what church to attend or how they live their lives based on how they feel in their hearts. God’s directions are tucked neatly away where they don’t interfere with feelings.