Faith Is Not a Feeling
My biggest takeaway in this week’s reading is that faith is not a feeling.
In Mere Christianity, Lewis explains that faith is the art of holding on to what you know is true, even when your feelings begin to change. And this is something that matters deeply for leaders. Because leadership is full of moments where what you feel and what you know are in conflict.
You know your team will grow.
You know the process works.
You know God is good.
But then something goes wrong.
A deal falls through.
A team member leaves.
A plan fails.
And suddenly, feelings take over.
Doubt creeps in.
Worry sets in.
Clarity fades.
Lewis would say this is exactly where faith is required.
Faith and Leadership
Leaders operate on belief.
We believe in people before they perform.
We believe in outcomes before they exist.
We believe that what we are building matters.
Faith is what allows us to keep moving when evidence is incomplete. Without it, leaders stall. With it, leaders act. And therein lies the difference – faith produces action.
The Enemy of Faith: Worry
Worry may feel productive, but it rarely solves anything.
It drains energy.
It clouds thinking.
It keeps you stuck in reaction mode instead of moving into action.
Faith does the opposite.
Faith brings peace into situations where others panic.
It steadies your mind so you can think clearly and act decisively.
Faith Requires Action
Faith is not passive. Faith without action produces nothing. Effective leaders do not sit back and wait. They move. They take the next step. They make the call. They solve the problem in front of them. And they trust that God will handle what they cannot see.
Our job is faith and action.
God’s job is the outcome.
A Different Way to See Success
Leaders should constantly remind themselves that success is not proof of our superiority.
It is a gift.
Spiritually strong leaders understand this.
They know their flaws.
They know their limitations.
They know how many things had to go right that were outside their control to lead to their success.
This perspective produces humility. And humility protects faith.
How to Grow Your Faith
Faith is strengthened by proximity. If you want more faith, spend time with people who have it. Watch how they interpret challenges. Listen to the questions they ask. Notice how they handle success and failure.
Faith is contagious.
A Simple Challenge
This week, when something challenges your confidence, pause and ask:
What do I know to be true right now?
Then take one action aligned with that truth.
Faith is not about feeling strong. Rather, it is about choosing to act on truth when you do not feel it.
That is what steady leadership looks like.
Stay steady.
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God Bless!
~ Schuyler Williamson