Discerning the Spirit in a Confusing World
Truth Hurts Before It Heals: Discerning the Spirit in a Confusing World
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you can know the truth of all things.”
— Moroni 10:2
Not all truth feels good at first.
Sometimes it stings. It disrupts. It leaves us breathless.
But when it’s from God, it always teaches, always invites, and always leads to growth. It may prick the heart before it comforts the soul—because conviction is rarely comfortable. Yet that discomfort is a signal, not a punishment. It’s an invitation to change.
The truth can wound—but only so it can heal.
A Testimony That Opened a Door
About twenty years ago, a servant of God came into our lives and shared his testimony. It was the first time we had ever heard someone talk about the baptism of fire or the possibility of receiving the Second Comforter in this life. He didn’t just teach it—he bore witness from personal experience.
It cracked something open in us, ultimately leading to us accepting the work currently underway.
At the time, we were attending an independent fundamentalist cottage meeting—similar in spirit to an LDS fast and testimony meeting. After this servant spoke, three people in our small group experienced the baptism by fire. They were filled with the spirit, changed, and felt compelled to share what had happened at the next gathering.
But instead of rejoicing with us, the response from the others was… disturbing.
No Bonafides
The servant wasn’t from the “right” family. He didn’t carry the “right” bloodline. And because of that, his message—and the experiences that followed—were quickly dismissed.
As each of the three bore their witness, I could hear whispering and feel the tension rising in the room. Afterward, many accused them of being deceived. Some even claimed they had felt a dark spirit present and insisted it must have been the devil who gave them those experiences.
But those who reject truth out of fear of being deceived have already fallen into the adversary’s trap—because that’s exactly what he wants.
Satan doesn’t need to tempt us with lies if he can simply make us afraid of the truth. Fear becomes his tool to keep us in spiritual stagnation, mistaking discomfort for danger.
But that’s not how God works.
The Lord doesn’t confirm truth by exposing us to evil spirits. He doesn’t guide through panic, paranoia, or dread. His Spirit brings clarity, not confusion—conviction, not fear.
The Lord doesn’t confirm truth by exposing us to evil spirits. He doesn’t lead us through panic and dread.
That moment became a hard but sacred teacher: we must learn to discern not just by feelings—but by light, truth, and the fruits that follow.
A Lesson Through Fear
Years later, the Spirit taught me this truth again—this time through a more personal trial.
Before my sister-in-law gave birth to her twin boys, I couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling that they were going to die. It was heavy, constant, and oppressive. Later, I learned other family members had felt the same thing. And sure enough, both babies became gravely ill shortly after birth. The doctors didn’t expect them to survive.
One day, I poured out my heart in prayer and asked the Lord:
“Was that dark feeling a warning from You?”
His answer came quickly and clearly:
“That’s not how I work. You know this.”
It was like a light turning on in a dark room.
Maybe the adversary had some foreknowledge of their fragile condition and sought to fill us with resignation and fear. But God didn’t want us bracing for death—He wanted us fighting for life.
“Speak life, not death.”
So I did.
We all did.
We prayed for healing, light, and life. And by a miracle, those little boys survived.
That experience reshaped my understanding of divine warning. The Holy Ghost teaches, guides, and brings clarity—not terror. Even if the babies had died, God would have come with understanding and comfort—not despair.
The Difference Between Warning and Fear
God’s warnings are never meant to paralyze us. They come with clarity, power, and a call to act—not dread and confusion.
“...Therefore the truth wounds the guilty since it cuts them to the core.”
— 1 Nephi 5:1
Yes, truth can hurt—but only because it exposes what needs healing. The adversary, on the other hand, uses fear and distortion to confuse and destroy.
God calls us to repentance. Satan drags us into shame.
When “Spiritual Impressions” Mislead
Not long ago, I overheard someone describe a woman they disliked as “surrounded by demons.” They had misjudged her motives and decided her spirit was dark.
At first, I chuckled and thought:
Maybe she’s surrounded by demons because it takes an army to stop someone so powerful for God!
But that passing thought stuck with me.
Because the truth is—so much harm is done when we dress up our own biases as “spiritual discernment.” There was no light, no intelligence, no fruit of the Spirit in that accusation. Just ego, misjudgment, and cruelty.
The Holy Ghost enlightens, not condemns.
It illuminates, not confuses.
It brings peace, not fear.
Four Keys to Discerning Truth by the Spirit
1. The Holy Ghost Gives Intelligence, Not Just Emotion
God is a God of light, reason, and remembrance. The Spirit may touch our hearts, but it also informs our minds.
“The Comforter… shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance.”
— John 9:9
“The glory of God is intelligence.”
— T&C 93:11
Feelings matter—but they aren’t the whole picture. Intelligence anchors revelation.
2. Satan Can Mimic Feelings or Stir Up Confusion
The adversary is subtle. He flatters. He provokes fear. He mimics spiritual impressions to lead us astray.
“He’s involved in the foundation of all these things—the foundation of murder and works of darkness—and he leads them by the neck with a strong rope.”
— 2 Nephi 11:15
“After [Moses] beheld God’s glory… Satan came tempting him.”
— Genesis 1:30
The presence of darkness after light isn’t always confirmation of truth—it can be the enemy trying to destroy a seed before it grows.
3. Truth Is Discerned by Light, Reason, and Fruits
Truth leads to repentance, faith, and love. It persuades toward Christ—even when it challenges us.
“That which is of God is light… and that light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”
— T&C 36:4
Real revelation brings forward motion, not paralysis.
4. Sometimes Truth Hurts Before It Heals
Conviction isn’t always comfortable—but it’s always purposeful.
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart...”
— Acts 1:12
“The word of God is… sharper than any two-edged sword… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
— Hebrews 10:4
“Verily thus says the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten.”
— T&C 94:1
If the Spirit cuts, it’s only to remove what is keeping us from wholeness.
Final Thought
The adversary thrives on fear, offense, and false judgment. He’ll twist even the purest truths to make them seem threatening. He wants us to reject correction by associating it with pain and confusion.
But the Spirit of God doesn’t work like that.
It corrects with clarity.
It teaches with light.
It invites with love.
It remembers the truth, not the trauma.
That’s how we discern: not just by how something feels, but by weighing it against scripture, reason, and the fruits it produces.
Getting this right could mean the difference between light and darkness, life and death.
“Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God.”
— T&C 147:5
Speak life. Choose light. Trust the God who knows how best to teach.
What Has the Spirit Taught You?
We’ve all wrestled with discerning the source of a spiritual impression. Sometimes answers come through peace. Other times, through pain. But always, truth will lead us closer to Christ.
- Have you ever received a truth that didn’t feel good at first—but turned out to be from God?
- Have you learned to recognize when something seemed spiritual, but wasn’t?
- What helps you discern?
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