Sermon Outline Title: Feelings Betray Us but Faith Saves Us
Bible Text: Isaiah 40:27-31
Theme: The Cure for Discouragement – Waiting on the Lord, Patience
Big Idea: Feelings will fail you, but faith will lift you. Those who wait upon the Lord will find new strength to rise above every fear, doubt, and storm.
1. The Danger of Discouragement (Isaiah 40:27)
a. The devil’s most worn-out tool is discouragement — he uses it to weaken faith and hinder fellowship with God.
b. Discouragement is born of feelings, and feelings are of the flesh — but the just shall live by faith, not feelings.
c. When we walk by sight instead of by faith, we allow our emotions to rule us rather than the Spirit of God guiding us.
d. Feelings betray us, but faith sustains us.
a. That was Israel’s problem in Isaiah’s day — they felt forgotten. They believed God had stopped caring or paying attention.
b. They were dejected and faithless because they couldn’t see His hand working around them.
c. Yet God had never stopped working; they just stopped believing.
d. Faith says, “I can’t see it, but I know God is doing it.”
a. A man once told me, “I know God can do anything — I just don’t know if He’ll do it for me.”
b. That’s what happens when feelings outweigh faith.
c. Faith says, “God will do it in His time.” Feelings say, “He won’t.”
d. Believers must remember: faith believes the impossible, but feelings doubt the obvious.
2. The Greatness of God (Isaiah 40:28-29)
a. God reminded Israel who He is — the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who never sleeps or grows weary.
b. He doesn’t faint or fail; His understanding is infinite.
c. He gives power to the faint and increases strength to those who have none.
d. In short, He doesn’t need help — He is the help.
a. Israel forgot the miracles of the past — the Red Sea, manna in the wilderness, the cloud by day and fire by night.
b. Like many believers today, they had short memories and even shorter patience.
c. They focused on their problems instead of the power of their God.
d. Faith remembers what God has done and believes what He can do again.
a. If we would only trust God’s timing and rest in His wisdom, we could see revival in our homes, our churches, and our nation.
b. God responds to faith, not frustration.
c. When faith is active, God’s power is visible. When feelings rule, His presence seems distant.
3. The Folly of Forgetting Faith (Isaiah 40:30)
a. God said, “You think I’ve forgotten you, but it’s you who’ve forgotten Me.”
b. Israel doubted His love, questioned His power, and accused Him of negligence.
c. They let feelings of fear and defeat rob them of faith and confidence in their God.
d. That’s what discouragement does — it makes us complain to the only One who can actually help.
a. How often do we do the same? We gripe about problems but never pray about them.
b. We talk more about our troubles than about the God who can fix them.
c. Every complaint reveals how little we’re trusting the Lord.
d. Our faith moves the heart of Jesus far more than our frustration ever will.
4. The Power of Waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)
a. Isaiah closes the chapter with encouragement — “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
b. Waiting doesn’t mean sitting still; it means trusting fully and confidently in God’s timing.
c. Waiting renews strength; worrying drains it.
d. When we wait on God, we learn to soar like eagles instead of stumbling in the dust.
a. Someone once said, “You can wait on the Lord and soar with the eagles, or trust your feelings and roost with the buzzards.”
b. The eagle is fearless and strong — it rises above storms instead of hiding beneath them.
c. Even old eagles renew their strength by shedding old feathers and growing new ones — a picture of spiritual renewal.
d. God promises that those who trust Him can “run and not be weary, walk and not faint.”
a. Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
b. Faith in Jesus gives endurance through trials, courage in storms, and peace in waiting.
c. The secret is simple: wait, trust, and walk — day by day, step by step.
Illustration / Example:
A preacher once compared the Christian life to an eagle and a buzzard. The buzzard circles dead things, waiting for something to die so it can feed. The eagle flies above the clouds, alive and strong, soaring toward heaven. Both face the same wind — but one uses it to rise higher. Faith is what turns the winds of trouble into the wings of triumph.
Alliterated Main Points:
Discouragement – The devil’s tool to weaken believers.
Divinity – God’s greatness that never fails.
Doubt – The failure of faith that blinds our vision.
Dependence – Waiting on the Lord for renewed strength.
Determination – Running and walking in faith without fainting.
Conclusion / Invitation:
We question where God is when things go wrong, but He’s always right where He’s been — working for our good. The real battle isn’t about God’s presence; it’s about our patience. Don’t let the devil defeat you with discouragement or feelings. Walk by faith, not by sight. Wait upon the Lord, and He will renew your strength. You’ll soar above your struggles, run through your trials, and walk faithfully until you reach your heavenly home.