Every emotion is coming in waves right now. One moment things feel completely hope-filled and joyous– literally joyous! I was feeling it on the plane to Bangkok just hours ago. They’re moments that feel the peace that surpasses all understanding, that can only come from the presence of the Lord. And then in the next moment, I feel like crying. I feel brokenhearted, confused, hurt, lost, and uncertain of the days ahead. I feel like everything is unknown; where I’m going and what’s happening to our world… what’s happening in my own life. But notice the repetition of “feel.” I feel this. I feel that. Feelings are valid and necessary. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t feel. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t feel.
Yet on the contrary, we’ve all seen the slogan “faith over feelings.” It encompasses such truth. I firmly believe that now is the time to remember that phrase more than ever; to repeat it as a mantra over and over again until it sticks. A feeling by definition is an emotional state or reaction; an idea or belief, especially a vague or irrational one. But faith by definition is complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
Complete trust!
I can feel sad, but I don’t have to operate out of a state of sadness.
I can feel scared, but I don’t have to operate out of a mentality of fear.
I can feel anxiety, but I don’t have to operate out of a place of worry.
But this whole faith over fear thing is absolutely a moment by moment choice. So much of it is mental and resides in our thoughts. Even as I type these words out now, I am realizing that in the anxious thoughts of worrying and ‘what ifs,’ conclude that in those moments, I am not praying. Worry and prayer can’t occupy the same head space. They just can’t. I can’t be communicating with the Creator of the Universe with trust and dependence, and be worrying about what’s happening tomorrow. It’s impossible. In one of my favorite devotions, the author said that we should allow whatever feelings we want to feel in, to feel them, accept them, and then let them go. Feelings are finite; they have a life span. Faith is eternal. And prayer, according to the Word, is supposed to happen “without ceasing!” It should be constant! Now more than ever.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Our minds are so powerful ya’ll. So powerful. But our God is far greater and far more powerful than them. So in this particular hour of feeling scared, I’m gonna pray. I’m gonna pray hard. I’m gonna listen to another worship song. I’m gonna put my phone down and sit still and listen for the voice of the Lord. I’m going to think about noble, pure, lovely, excellent things. I’m going to shift my focus away from the fear and back onto my Father.
The emotions come in waves because God wants us to turn back to Him over and over again. He wants us to turn back to Him until our eyes are fixed only on Him; until our flesh and feelings don’t rise up in first response, but the Holy Spirit rises up through us in first response.
What if instead of making excuses of “I just wanna be sad,” or “It’s okay to be scared,” we replaced that with “I just wanna pray harder in this moment cause I’m feeling sad, and I know God can change that.” Or “I’m scared, so I’m going to listen to ‘Tremble’ because I believe that hearing the name of Jesus in my headphones can eradicate this fear.” It’s a choice in how you want to respond to your feelings.
We have the power to change our thoughts. We have the power to trust. We have the power to influence others to do the same. We’re being called higher; to rise above the normal noise and bring the peace and beauty of Heaven down to earth. So let’s do it, ya’ll. Let’s do it.
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” (Romans 6:10)
We have the power and authority. Now more than ever, let’s use it.
This is only the beginning.
#leavehope #wakeupthewonder
