"God only answers prayers of people who really believe. I'm just pretending."
How it sounds in your head: Sometimes in worship I don't feel anything and I wonder if I'm even saved. Other girls cry and raise their hands and seem so sure. I'm just going through the motions. Maybe God knows I'm a fake and that's why nothing happens when I pray.
"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."
-- 2 Timothy 2:13Source: Religious performance culture that measures genuine faith by emotional intensity and visible passion.
She compares her internal doubt to others' external expressions and assumes their feelings are more real. When she doesn't 'feel' God during worship, she thinks that means her faith isn't genuine.
Thomas said 'Unless I see and touch the wounds, I will NOT believe' - the ultimate doubt statement. Jesus didn't reject him but showed up specifically for Thomas, invited him to touch, and called him blessed anyway.
I REFUSE the lie that my doubts make me a fake. IT IS WRITTEN that even when I am faithless, HE remains faithful because He cannot deny Himself! My salvation isn't held together by my perfect emotions but by His perfect sacrifice. Some days I feel nothing and that's OKAY because feelings aren't faith and faith isn't feelings. IT IS WRITTEN that there is no condemnation for me in Christ Jesus, which means my questions don't cancel my position as His daughter. I am His beloved even on days I can't feel Him, and His promises are YES and AMEN whether I'm crying in worship or sitting there confused.
Your Father doesn't measure your authenticity by how much you cry during worship songs. He sees you sitting there feeling nothing and loves you exactly the same as when you're feeling everything, because His love is based on WHO HE IS, not on how you feel.