Are your feelings ruling your life?
How often do you start a conversation or a thought with something along the lines of, “Well, I feel this way…” or “That makes me feel…” or even, “When you did/said this, it made me feel…”
How often do you talk and think about the way you feel?
As a counselor, I know I'm prone to this sort of language. My clients and I talk often about how they felt or feel about a memory, a situation or a circumstance.
Sometimes we get stuck in our feelings. We let them direct our decisions and the way we interact with others. But, there's a problem with living this way…
Our feelings can change at any moment and be dictated by any external or internal factor. It leads to an ever-changing and chaotic kind of life – one that is easily swayed by feelings, rather than anchored in faith.
Now, let me be clear: feelings are not bad. Our emotions were created by God. They are natural, and they can often be great indicators of when we're unsafe, need something, or just want to celebrate!
The issue comes when we are led by our feelings. Our emotions are based on our own perception, and not always on the truth. God knew we would struggle to separate the two when needed, and that's why He encouraged us through Paul:
“… for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Our emotions and feelings will always be there. They happen instinctively. It's up to us to choose what we'll do with those feelings.
When someone wrongs us, we don't have to live in bitterness. We can be sad or angry, and yet we can still choose to rest in God's truth that He is in control of all things. We can forgive that person, and we can move on.
When we've sinned against someone, we might feel ashamed or angry with ourselves. But, we don't have to stay in those feelings. We can apologize to God and the person we've wronged, repent, and move forward.
When we're anchored in faith, we aren't swayed by the waves of our emotions. We can rest in knowing that our emotions are indicators without allowing them to become dictators. And, we can rest in knowing that God sees it all and holds it all in His hands.
