Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: Don’t Trust Everything You Feel
Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this vulnerable, raw, and encouraging episode, Ally Yost addresses the complex relationship between faith and feelings, particularly how to maintain faith in God without allowing fleeting emotions to take the driver's seat. Prompted by a listener question on “how to have faith without feeling anything,” Ally explores scripture, personal experience, and practical strategies for anchoring oneself in God’s Word instead of the instability of emotions.

Main Themes & Discussion Points

1. Setting the Scene: Fall Vibes and California Living

• Timestamp: 01:00-04:30
• Ally shares her love of all things pumpkin and the ritual of pumpkin spice lattes in autumn, despite living in Southern California where traditional fall weather doesn’t really arrive until later.
• She mentions how her family on the East Coast gets to experience a “real fall” and how cultivating the fall spirit in California requires some extra effort.

2. Listener Question: Faith vs. Feelings

• Timestamp: 05:00-07:00
• Ally introduces the main topic in response to Annalise's question about “how to have faith without feeling anything.”
  • “The way that I'm interpreting that is: how to have faith in God without letting our feelings take over… not letting our feelings dictate the way that we have faith and follow the Lord.” (06:10)

3. The Unreliability of Feelings

• Timestamp: 07:00-11:00
• Ally discusses the dangers of relying on feelings, sharing her own past struggles with self-awareness and getting swept up in emotion:
  • “Our feelings can come and go so quickly... If feelings—if our flesh—can be that fleeting, that does not sound like a good foundation to me.” (09:15)
• Emphasizes that feelings are variable, but God’s Word is constant.
  • "But God's Word doesn't. God's Word is the thing that is constant." (10:30)

4. Anchoring Faith in God’s Word

• Timestamp: 11:00-13:30
• Practical advice: The antidote to emotional storms is anchoring oneself in scripture.
  • “I'd say my number one piece of advice would be to anchor your faith in God's word rather than anchoring it in your emotions.” (11:35)

5. Faith and Feelings Can Coexist

• Timestamp: 13:30-15:30
• Ally observes that faith without feeling isn’t realistic:
  • “I don't think we can have faith without feeling anything. But we can have faith while feeling things.” (14:29)
• The choice isn’t between faith or feelings, but where faith is anchored.

6. Acknowledging & Confessing Feelings to God

• Timestamp: 15:30-20:30
• Ally highlights the importance of honestly verbalizing emotions to God:
  • She describes talking to God out loud in the car, treating Him as her therapist and source of revelation.
  • “It’s so silly that we think that if we don’t say something out loud to God, then He doesn’t know it. He’s literally God, okay?” (17:42)
  • God welcomes our honesty, is not offended by our doubts, and desires intimacy and vulnerability.
  • “Above all else, he just wants connection. He wants intimacy, and he wants honesty.” (20:46)

7. The Value of Vulnerability and Relationship with God

• Timestamp: 22:00-25:00
• Ally draws parallels between honest human relationships and openness with God.
  • “I think he really values honesty…that’s what God wants. And those are, like, his favorite things.” (22:00)
• God’s response to our confessions is compassion, not condemnation.
  • "Thank you for sharing that with me, Ally. ... You're not crazy. ... But can I remind you of a couple things? I want to remind you of the truth." (Paraphrased, 24:50)

8. Practicing Obedience Despite Dryness

• Timestamp: 26:30-29:00
• Even when worship, prayer, or reading the bible "feels dry," continuing in it is an act of obedience God cherishes.
  • “It’s actually the act of obedience—regardless of how you feel—that God is so pleased with. And you will see the fruit of that.” (28:20)

9. Faith is Trust, Not Perfection

• Timestamp: 29:00-32:00
• It’s normal to experience doubt or emotional lows as a Christian.
  • "It's about saying, 'Despite what I feel, I trust God's character more than my emotions.'" (31:15)

10. Memorable Truth: Feelings Are Real but Not Final

• Timestamp: 32:00-34:00
• Ally shares a phrase to hold onto:
  • “My feelings are real, but they aren’t final. God’s word is final.” (32:45)
• As we practice this discipline, faith becomes more deeply rooted in God and less defined by emotions.

11. Summary & Encouragement

• Timestamp: 34:00-35:30
• Ally closes by affirming that all believers struggle with overwhelming feelings and need constant reminders.
• “I’m excited for you guys to be just like, practicing these new strategies and mastering believing and having our faith anchored in God more so than our feelings. We’re all going to practice that, and we’re going to get really, really good at it.” (35:00)
• Leaves listeners with a challenge to emulate Jesus in their actions throughout the day.

Notable Quotes

• On the instability of emotions:
  “If feelings—if our flesh—can be that fleeting, that does not sound like a good foundation to me.” (09:15)

• On God’s unchanging nature:
  “God's word doesn't [change]. God's word is the thing that is constant.” (10:30)

• On faith and emotion coexisting:
  “I don't think we can have faith without feeling anything. But we can have faith while feeling things.” (14:29)

• On confessing feelings to God:
  “It’s so silly that we think that if we don’t say something out loud to God, then He doesn’t know it. He’s literally God, okay?” (17:42)

• On God’s heart:
  "Above all else, he just wants connection. He wants intimacy and he wants honesty." (20:46)

• On obedience during dry seasons:
  “It’s actually the act of obedience—regardless of how you feel—that God is so pleased with. And you will see the fruit of that.” (28:20)

• On a key truth:
  “My feelings are real, but they aren’t final. God’s word is final.” (32:45)

Key Takeaways

• Feelings, while real and valid, are not a trustworthy foundation for faith. God’s Word is the only constant.
• Honesty, vulnerability, and open communication with God are vital—He welcomes your true feelings.
• Faith and feelings can exist together—it’s where your faith is anchored that matters.
• Obedience in spiritual practices, even when “dry,” produces fruit and delights God.
• Faith is an act of trust, not a measure of perfection.
• Remind yourself: “My feelings are real, but they aren’t final. God’s word is final.”

Timestamp Guide for Key Segments

• 01:00 – Setting the fall mood, California vs. New York autumn
• 05:00 – Introducing main listener question
• 09:15 – Feelings as an unstable foundation
• 11:35 – Anchoring faith in God’s Word
• 14:29 – Faith and feelings can coexist
• 17:42 – Confessing feelings to God honestly
• 20:46 – God values honesty and intimacy
• 28:20 – Importance of obedience even in dry seasons
• 32:45 – “My feelings are real, but they aren’t final.”
• 35:00 – Encouragement and call to action

Ally’s accessible, genuine tone is comforting and encouraging, making this episode a meaningful guide for anyone struggling with the intersection of faith and emotion. The episode offers reassurance: it’s not about feeling nothing, but about choosing to trust in God’s unchanging character and Word above what your emotions may tell you.