Faith Over Feelings: The Rules of Engagement – Flight Line to Living Room

By Drake Hunter | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

If you love me, keep my commands.

~ John 14:15 ~

In the Air Force, Rules of Engagement were never suggestions. They weren’t emotional guidelines. They were commands—clearly defined before the pressure ever came.

When executing missions on the flight line, especially in dangerous areas, you can’t decide in the moment what feels right.

You don’t rely on instinct alone. You don’t let adrenaline dictate your actions. You operate under authority—clear orders, strict boundaries, and a defined purpose. Never letting emotions alter the mission, because obedience is what ensures lives are protected—yours and others’, no matter how you feel. In fact, I learned early on that the tougher the situation, the more important the rules become, again, regardless of my feelings.

Outside the military, though, there are other kinds of rules of engagement. One of Sherrie’s favorite sitcoms is Rules of Engagement. It’s lighthearted, relationship-focused, and genuinely funny. Now, during hospital stays, rehabilitation, and those long, uncertain nights, laughter has given us comfort and relief through such sitcoms.

During one evening, as sitcoms played quietly in the background, I suddenly realized something. Sitcoms work because everyone keeps breaking the rules: marriage chaos, relational drama, emotional reactions everywhere. That’s what makes it funny on TV. But real life doesn’t work that way, whether on the frontlines of war or watching sitcoms in the living room.

Unlike in sitcoms, breaking rules doesn’t make life funny—it can actually make it fragile. This difference teaches us an important lesson about a common misconception: that our feelings always tell us what’s right. We often hear this from many sources: “If it feels right, it must be right.”

Many of us believe this without realizing it can be misleading. Feelings may seem caring, honest, and human, but if we rely on them too much, they can lead us astray—like when we feel distant from God but still choose to follow His Word because we know it’s true.

So, what am I saying? Well, God’s commands aren’t based on how you feel. Love is shown through obedience; it’s how we demonstrate faith to others by trusting God’s commands.

This trust helps us grow genuine confidence in our faith, rather than relying on fleeting feelings. Jesus points out that love is shown through obeying, not just feelings, and He asks us to keep His commandments because we love Him, no matter how we feel at the moment. That’s a wonderful reminder, because who better understands pressure than Jesus Himself, who has faced everything? Jesus didn’t obey the Father just because it seemed right at the time. He obeyed because it was the right thing to do. 

So, why is this important now? Well, when we’re exhausted—whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually—it’s easy for our feelings to become overwhelming and to assert a kind of authority they weren’t meant to hold. But remember, faith doesn’t depend on an emotional agreement.

Paul puts it this way: “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…” (Ephesians 5:1–2). Notice the order: Walk, not feel. Follow, not react—love as Christ loved—not as circumstances permit. Love leads, and feelings follow, never the other way around.

Just as the rules were settled before the mission in the military, God’s Word provides a stable foundation that warmly encourages believers to trust in what has already been spoken.

Our battle strategy, as we’ve been discussing—Rules of Engagement—applies whether we’re on the front lines or at home in the living room. The key is to base our actions in Scripture rather than feelings or fleeting thoughts.

As God’s people, we gently train our hearts to follow His Word, and in turn, our feelings will naturally follow where we lead. So, take a moment to reflect on several questions: What has God already spoken to me? What does obedience look like in this moment? What action truly aligns with Christ, rather than just my comfort?

Understanding this teaches us how love is protected and faith becomes stronger. It also shows how the soul stays resilient under pressure. Throughout my life—from the front lines to the living room—one principle has always guided me: we shouldn’t build our lives on fleeting feelings, but on commitments we’ve made through sincere thought that guides real emotions.

Feelings are a valuable part of our journey, helping us feel understood and connected, but they shouldn’t control our faith. They support us, but our true guidance comes from the promises we’ve embraced. 

Hear this with your heart: Faith always leads the way, and obedience keeps us steady. Over time—calmly and faithfully—the heart (feelings, emotions, moods) catches up, whether we’re on the frontlines of the battle or in the living rooms of God’s presence in the Art of War.

And as always, remember: God is here. God is able. God is good.

Pastor Drake

I’ll be continuing this conversation later this week on the Just Sayin’ podcast, where we’ll take a deeper look at what “Faith Over Feelings: The Rules of Engagement – Flight Line to Living Room” means. 

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so, we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.