Baptism

Asked By taekwondo_girl

When you get baptized why doesn't it change your feeling inside? Why doesn't it change your heart?

It sounds like you have been baptized, but the changes that you were expecting to come as a result have not happened. Now, you're wondering why your heart hasn't changed and why you don't feel different. Sometimes when we make a major spiritual decision, like baptism, we expect to be completely different people after we have done it. We somehow want to feel more spiritual or sense God's presence in a deeper way. We also tend to think that we won't sin the way that we used to.

The reality is that baptism is an incredible symbol of the way that we have died to sin and risen again in new life because of our faith in Jesus. However, baptism does not guarantee a change in our feelings. Remember that our feelings can go up and down-even in the same hour! Rather than looking at your feelings as a gauge, look at what is unchanging and stable-God's Word.

Also, keep in mind that your heart was changed the moment that you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It was changed from a heart that was against God (which we all were before we met Christ) to a heart that is open to Him (Ezekiel 36:26). But, all of our hearts are prone to wandering, which is why we need to be intentional about growing in our relationship with Jesus every day (Proverbs 4:23).

We're not sure why you asked about this heart change, but perhaps it's because you are discouraged that you continue to struggle with sin in some areas of your life. If this is the case, remember that you're not alone! We will all wrestle with sin every day of our lives. However, we can find hope in the fact that God promises victory over sin. The Holy Spirit is the one who can help us each day.

We hope that our answer has provided some encouragement to you. We also want to urge you to seek out a youth pastor or someone in your local church about the questions that you have. We're sure they'd love to talk with you.