If someone were to ask me what I believe is the #1 issue facing the majority of people today, I would not say: the economy, the inflation rate, the price of gas, the price of food, the fentanyl crisis, the border crisis, the breakdown of the family unit, or a hundred other answers.
My answer? Fear and anxiety and often the resulting depression and despair which comes as a “fruit” of the fear and anxiety.
I honestly believe we struggle with the results of that fear or the realization of what the difficulties imply, or lead us to rather than the “cause” itself. The fear and anxiety from the triggers play havoc on our lives more than than the triggers.
Fear and anxiety is very real, but it is also nothing new. David is proof positive in Psalm 13. The first two verses of that psalm are a heart cry of desperation and anguish. But if you keep reading, verses 5-6 are an answer to that anguish. Please give me a moment to show you:
- If God truly forgot David as he says in verse 1a, how did God truly love David unceasingly as David says in verse 5a?
- In verse 1b David also says God hid His face from him and yet in verse 6b David says God was good to him.
- In verse 2a David wrestled with many thoughts and had sorrow in his heart every day, but in verse 6a says he sang with joy at the same time.
- In verse 2b David says his enemy was triumphing over him, but in verse 5b David says God was delivering him from his enemy.
Do you see the discrepancy? It’s the discrepancy of feelings versus belief. David felt like God had forgotten him, but he believed God was somehow good to him behind the scenes.
The discrepancy was between feelings and fact, between what he felt vs what he knew to be true.
Followers of Jesus do not need to despair or to live in fear. Feelings vs facts. We may not feel God cares, but the truth is that He does, in spite of our feelings.
Stand on facts not your feelings.
{Note: I owe a debt of gratitude to Randall Arthur and his book, Wisdom Hunter, for laying the groundwork for these thoughts. Hint: you might want to check out that book! You will be glad you did.}
We can never trust our feelings, Bill, especially when we know the facts – God will never forsake us, no matter what is happening.
Blessings!
Exactly Martha!
Feelings are a two-edged sword for sure, but are not bad. God had feelings and Jesus displayed His feelings while on Earth. Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Frustration, the list could go on. Where feelings get us is when they are contradicted by Fact. Satan has been using this tactic since the beginning of creation. Twisting and distorting truth just enough to cause fear and panic. Living in a persisted state of fear can lead to anxiety. Sin does that as well. No doubt God loves us, no doubt God wants what is best for us, no doubt God has our best interest in mind… Living in fear of the what-ifs and what could just doesn’t make since. I have played that game and tend to lose every time. When you mind can only see a single positive outcome, yet you can conjure 100,000 negative outcomes in 30 seconds flat… The odds in your mind will always be against you. So focus on the 1 positive outcome that is guaranteed… I am a child of God, My eternity is secure… Done.
Playing that game is a losing one for sure Ryan. I concur with your final analysis. I am a child of God. My eternity is secure. Done. I’ll put a nail through that one.
Good point Bill. As followers of Christ, we need to have discernment between what our feeling are conveying to us and what are the truths in the Bible. Emotions and feelings can over run your judgement if you do not hold those emotions up to the standard of truth only found in the Bible. What does God say on the matter. However, we are human and our emotions can get away from us, that is where deep and honest pray, reading God’s word, spend quiet time with the Lord, and having christian people speak God’s spiritual truth into your life. We all need that to live a healthy spiritual life rooted in Christ.
You say it right Gail. I do think too many people are too interested in what their feelings say than what God’s Word says.
Whew! I have felt that wrestling match going on inside me for quite some time. Knowing what is truth, in reality, yet feeling the total opposite. The battle is real, and you would think I would be closer to victory after serving the Lord all these years. Thank you for this precious encouragement, Pastor.
I have this sneaking suspicion Cheryl that the battle has only just begun and we won’t see its end until eternity. Our enemy will not give up that easily. Thanks for your encouragement.