--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to…" description: "\"“Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self behind, to leave ‘why’ behind, and choose to believe God.”\" — Norma Gail" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg" --- # Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self… ![“Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self behind, to leave ‘why’ behind, and choose to believe God.” quote by Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg) > ““Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self behind, to leave ‘why’ behind, and choose to believe God.”” [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith is presented as a conscious choice to abandon self‑centered questioning and trust in a higher power. **In simple terms:** Faith is a decision, not a feeling. Key Takeaway Choose faith over doubt. Themes faith decision trust Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making life choices - overcoming skepticism - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism spiritual commitment Questions to Reflect On - What does leaving “why” behind mean to you? - How do you sustain belief after the decision? A Different Perspective Decision may feel forced without personal conviction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [“Faith is not a feeling, she says. It's a set of actions. By taking the actions, you demonstrate more faith than somebody who actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/faith-is-not-a-feeling-she-says-it-s-a-set-of-actions-by-taking-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [Sight is not faith, and hearing is not faith, neither is feeling faith; but believing when we neither see, hear, nor feel is faith;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/sight-is-not-faith-and-hearing-is-not-faith-neither-is-feeling-faith/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [“Some nonreligious people are disgruntled by the word "faith," feeling that it has no connection to them. But we all have faith. Broadly speaking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentetsu-takamori/some-nonreligious-people-are-disgruntled-by-the-word-faith-feeling/) [Kentetsu Takamori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentetsu-takamori/) > [Confound not faith and feeling together. They are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise. Believe, believe. Let your faith take hold of the blessing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/confound-not-faith-and-feeling-together-they-are-distinct-faith-is/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Religion is faith. Faith is belief without evidence. Belief without evidence cannot be shared. Faith is a feeling. Love is also a feeling, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/religion-is-faith-faith-is-belief-without-evidence-belief-without/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [A very real barrier to faith is this feeling of self-sufficiency, this unrealistic idea that one can accomplish everything by his or her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/a-very-real-barrier-to-faith-is-this-feeling-of-self-sufficiency-this/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“We believe in God when for one reason or another we choose to do so. We believe God when somehow we run into God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/we-believe-in-god-when-for-one-reason-or-another-we-choose-to-do-so/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Don't fall into Satan's trap of being negative.Choose to believe God & get ready to receive the wonderful gifts He is waiting to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-fall-into-satan-s-trap-of-being-negative-choose-to-believe-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love for God and love for others is not a feeling it's a decision we make-each and every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-shadrach/love-for-god-and-love-for-others-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-we/) [Steve Shadrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-shadrach/) > [I walked into my agency and I said, "You know what? I can't do this. You're telling me I need to go on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-renn/i-walked-into-my-agency-and-i-said-you-know-what-i-can-t-do-this-you/) [Crystal Renn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-renn/) > [Contentment with life is not a feeling, but it is a decision we must make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/contentment-with-life-is-not-a-feeling-but-it-is-a-decision-we-must-2/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Forgiveness is not a feeling - it's a decision we make because we want to do what's right before God. It's a quality decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/forgiveness-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-we-make-because-we-want-2/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“To love somebody is not just a strong feeling—it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise. If love were only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-love-somebody-is-not-just-a-strong-feeling-it-is-a-decision-it-is-3/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To love somebody is not just a strong feeling - it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-love-somebody-is-not-just-a-strong-feeling-it-is-a-decision-it-is/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Forgiveness is not a feeling - it's a decision we make because we want to do what's right before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/forgiveness-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-we-make-because-we-want/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Norma Gail > [“May my weakness not drive me to my knees in despair, but raise me up to You, Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/may-my-weakness-not-drive-me-to-my-knees-in-despair-but-raise-me-up/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“Sometimes the greatest blessings come when we leave the familiar behind and take a step of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/sometimes-the-greatest-blessings-come-when-we-leave-the-familiar/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“We’re always in danger of going over the edge unless we stay at the center of God’s will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/we-re-always-in-danger-of-going-over-the-edge-unless-we-stay-at-the/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“No gains are ever achieved without first taking the risk of trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/no-gains-are-ever-achieved-without-first-taking-the-risk-of-trying/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“True love can’t exist without trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/true-love-can-t-exist-without-trust/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“If He leaves you with no one and nothing, you still have God, and therefore, you have hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/if-he-leaves-you-with-no-one-and-nothing-you-still-have-god-and/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [ “\[I\]f you don’t believe all of God’s word, you don’t truly believe.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/i-f-you-don-t-believe-all-of-god-s-word-you-don-t-truly-believe/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“Pain is a reminder that God has not forgotten us. He cares enough to allow us to experience in a small way what He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/pain-is-a-reminder-that-god-has-not-forgotten-us-he-cares-enough-to/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“I’ve seen the devastating effects of acting before seeking God’s will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/i-ve-seen-the-devastating-effects-of-acting-before-seeking-god-s-will/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [ “\[T\]he single answer to the ‘whys’ in life is God’s sovereignty.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/t-he-single-answer-to-the-whys-in-life-is-god-s-sovereignty/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“You can't understand where you should be going until you understand what you were created to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/you-can-t-understand-where-you-should-be-going-until-you-understand/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“After what God has done in my life, I will be only what it pleases Him to make me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/after-what-god-has-done-in-my-life-i-will-be-only-what-it-pleases-him/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“If God wills, He’ll resolve it, if not, then there’s a better plan...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/if-god-wills-he-ll-resolve-it-if-not-then-there-s-a-better-plan/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“God never says the safe and familiar is His best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/god-never-says-the-safe-and-familiar-is-his-best/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) > [“When you discover there’s no peace without Him, you’ll find God there waiting for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/when-you-discover-there-s-no-peace-without-him-you-ll-find-god-there/) [Norma Gail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) [Explore all 17 Norma Gail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self behind, to leave ‘why’ behind, and choose to believe God.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norma Gail" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-to-leave-self-behind-to-leave/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-to-leave-self-behind-to-leave/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/norma-gail-30982_believe_faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-t_2377025.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faith is not a feeling…it’s a decision to leave self behind, to leave ‘why’ behind, and choose to believe God.” — Norma Gail", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norma Gail", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-gail/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Faith is not a feeling…it’s a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-to-leave-self-behind-to-leave/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-gail/faith-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-to-leave-self-behind-to-leave/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```