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One of the greatest rock songs of all time was written with absolutely no intention of teaching a Christian message. Yet hidden within its lyrics may be a truth every Christian needs to hear. Could a classic rock anthem contain a profound lesson about faith, prayer, and our relationship with God? I think it can. Click below to read more.
If you ever found yourself at a Pusateri family gathering, there is a pretty good chance you would eventually hear Boston’s classic song, “More Than a Feeling.” If all five of our adult children are together with Mary Beth and me, there is an even better chance you would witness seven people singing at the top of their lungs, playing air guitars, pounding invisible drums, and pretending we are the band. The song has become our family’s unofficial rock anthem. The other day it came on the radio while I was driving, and a thought struck me. This may be the last song anyone would expect to contain a spiritual lesson. But it does. Our faith also calls us to have more than a feeling.
For those who enjoy music trivia, the story behind the song is almost as fascinating as the song itself. Boston was not assembled by seasoned music industry veterans. Much of the band’s distinctive sound came from Tom Scholz, an MIT-trained engineer who spent years experimenting with recording technology in a basement studio. The result was a sound unlike anything listeners had heard before. Nearly fifty years later, “More Than a Feeling” continues to appear on lists of the greatest rock songs ever recorded and remains a staple of classic rock radio.
At its core, the song tells the story of a man who hears an old tune and is immediately transported back to memories of Marianne, a lost love. The music awakens emotions that had been buried for years. Suddenly he can see her walking away. He remembers the past and feels the ache of what once was. The song even speaks of those moments “when I’m tired and thinking cold,” times when life feels heavy and something inside us longs for what has been lost. Most of us understand that experience. A song, photograph, or familiar scent can instantly transport us back to a time in our past. Feelings have tremendous power.
The singer’s connection to Marianne is built entirely on memory and emotion. He hears a song, feels something deep inside, and for a moment the past comes rushing back. Many Christians unknowingly approach their relationship with God in much the same way. We judge the strength of our faith by the strength of our feelings. If prayer moves us emotionally, we conclude that God is near. If worship brings us to tears, we assume God is speaking. If we feel inspired while reading Scripture, we believe our faith is strong. But what happens when those feelings disappear?
Christianity has always understood that faith is often lived in darkness and can be put to the test. Those words challenge much of our modern thinking. We live in a culture that tells us to trust our feelings above all else. Yet faith calls us to trust something greater than our feelings. There are seasons when God feels very close and seasons when He seems silent. Times when prayer feels alive and times when it feels dry. There are even moments when we are tired and thinking cold, wondering if God is still there.
Get your air guitars and invisible drum set ready, and click the link below. Yes, believe it or not, there is a hidden message of faith contained in this song.
The absence of a feeling does not mean the absence of God!
One of the most important lessons of the spiritual life is learning that consolations are not the goal of prayer. Consolations are wonderful gifts. They encourage us, strengthen us, and remind us of God’s love. But the goal of prayer is not to feel something. The goal of prayer is to encounter God. If we chase feelings, we may miss Him entirely.
Every married couple eventually learns this lesson. After nearly fifty years of marriage, I can assure you that authentic love involves much more than emotions. Feelings rise and fall. Life becomes busy. People become tired. Challenges arise. Yet love remains because it is rooted in commitment, trust, sacrifice, and fidelity. The strongest marriages survive not because the feelings never change, but because they are built upon a covenant that remains even when feelings fluctuate.
The same is true with God. Some mornings I sit on my porch with a cup of coffee and sense God’s presence all around me. Other mornings I say the same prayers and feel absolutely nothing. Yet God is no less present on the second morning than He was on the first. His presence does not depend upon my emotions. His faithfulness does not rise and fall with my feelings.
Scripture tells us that faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is trusting God even when certainty is absent and feelings have faded.
Boston may have been singing about Marianne, but the title of their song points toward a deeper truth. Our faith was never meant to be built upon feelings alone. It was always meant to be more than a feeling.
Heavenly Father, help us to trust You not only in moments of consolation, but also in seasons of darkness. Strengthen our faith when our feelings are weak, and remind us that Your presence never depends upon our emotions. Teach us to love and trust You with steadfast hearts. Amen.
Have you checked out my new book, Living Out the Lord’s Supper? To find out what readers everywhere are talking about, click here.
AMDG
AMDG is a Latin abbreviation for “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” which means “For the Greater Glory of God.”
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
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