Sidetracked by Emotions
My brother is experiencing very rough times right now. His health issues put him on disability, which led to financial straits. I sometimes wish I were a multi-millionaire so I could support him completely. However, that wouldn't even be good for him because it would take away his self-respect, something he is struggling with anyway. I try to help him with words of encouragement and occasional gifts to help him through. But he struggles with pity parties—and I totally understand.
In our conversation this morning, I reminded him that we are to live by biblical principles, not our emotions. Let's face it, our emotions often skew our perceptions and keep us from honoring God.
That said, the Bible is full of godly people who get sidetracked by their emotions. Elijah is perhaps one of the best examples. He had just demonstrated the power of God in the "competition" with the priests of Baal but fled when Jezebel threatened his life. Fear and loneliness and, yes, self pity were his companions.
As I read the account of God's dealings with him in 1 Kings 19, I cannot help but see that God never, in essence, wagged his finger at Elijah and told him he was washed up because of a bad attitude. Instead, God allowed him to sleep and sent an angel to feed him. When he had been physically cared for, God listened to him and led him to the cave where Elijah experienced the earthquake the fire and then the gentle whisper. God told Elijah of the many other prophets he had and then provided Elisha to minister with him.
Then there was Jeremiah, who was known as the "Weeping Prophet". Talk about loneliness! He'd been commanded not to marry. He endured beatings, opposition and imprisonment. He often wanted out of his position as prophet, thus earning the other nickname of "Reluctant Prophet". But he continued on, faithfully proclaiming God's word, God's truth.
And if we read the Psalms, we see how often David was troubled and overcome with emotions before choosing to trust and worship his God, his Rock, his Savior.
Or read the book of Habakkuk and sense his desperation before submitting in praise to God.
God understands. God is sovereign and even when we don't see Him, He is there. He is working in ways we do not understand—ways we may never understand in this life. He is working for our good, whether it seems like it or not. We just need to trust Him, to follow the example of others and turn our thoughts from ourselves to God Himself.
In our conversation this morning, I reminded him that we are to live by biblical principles, not our emotions. Let's face it, our emotions often skew our perceptions and keep us from honoring God.
That said, the Bible is full of godly people who get sidetracked by their emotions. Elijah is perhaps one of the best examples. He had just demonstrated the power of God in the "competition" with the priests of Baal but fled when Jezebel threatened his life. Fear and loneliness and, yes, self pity were his companions.
Then there was Jeremiah, who was known as the "Weeping Prophet". Talk about loneliness! He'd been commanded not to marry. He endured beatings, opposition and imprisonment. He often wanted out of his position as prophet, thus earning the other nickname of "Reluctant Prophet". But he continued on, faithfully proclaiming God's word, God's truth.
And if we read the Psalms, we see how often David was troubled and overcome with emotions before choosing to trust and worship his God, his Rock, his Savior.
Or read the book of Habakkuk and sense his desperation before submitting in praise to God.
God understands. God is sovereign and even when we don't see Him, He is there. He is working in ways we do not understand—ways we may never understand in this life. He is working for our good, whether it seems like it or not. We just need to trust Him, to follow the example of others and turn our thoughts from ourselves to God Himself.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord,
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8,9
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