How can we maintain faith and trust in Christ even when our hearts feel dull and cold?

Tom Ascol reminds us of the nature of the Christian life, which is to live by faith and not by sight. When our hearts feel heavy or cold, it is important to remember that Jesus Christ remains the same, unchanging in His beauty and goodness. Our ability to perceive and lay hold of the beauties of Christ may fluctuate, but by faith, we trust that they are always present.

Even in seasons where we may not sense God's presence, faith calls us to acknowledge His presence and to continue seeking Him through reading His Word and prayer. Living a life of faith means not allowing our emotions and affections to dictate our relationship with God, but rather relying on His unchanging nature and promises.

In the midst of feeling spiritually dry or distant, it is essential to trust in God's Word and His faithfulness. Our duty, as Jonathan Edwards taught, is to elevate our affections and passion for God to the highest level possible, as long as they are grounded in the truth revealed in Jesus Christ. We should never settle for a cold heart toward God but actively seek to ignite our love and devotion to Him through faith. It is through trusting God's promises and seeking Him diligently that our hearts can be reignited and our faith strengthened.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) encapsulates the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ and the foundation of our faith: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

One of the things we must do is to remember the nature of the Christian life. We live by faith, not by sight. And so when my heart is dull and cold, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And I know that the problem is in me, not in Christ. And just because my faith may be waning and I might not be able to lay hold of all of the beauties and the goodness that is in Christ does not mean that those beauties and goodness is not there.

Rather, we know by faith that they are there. God tells us. And so what I do when I find my heart heavy or my heart cold is I continue to read the Word praying God melt my heart show me again but if he doesn't if He determines to leave me in that state for a season when I do not sense His presence in my life, faith demands that I acknowledge His presence in my life. He's not changed. And so it's of the essence of a life lived by walking in faith that calls us to not let our emotions, not let our passions, our affections rule the way that we live.

We have to take God at His word every day and trust Him to inflame our passions. I should never be satisfied when my heart is cold toward God. Rather, I remember and believe what Jonathan Edwards taught, that it is our duty to raise the affections of our own lives and those around us to the highest level possible, provided they are raised by the truth that is revealed from God in Jesus Christ. You