Author: Kevin Wilson

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Being Thankful Even When It Doesn’t Feel Right

“For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”   Lamentation 3:31, ESV

I watched him as he walked past the parents lined up on the fence, head down, helmet on, with a quickened pace as he came off the field and walked to the car for the long ride home. Two hours earlier, my son talked my ear off about the second-round playoff game he was about to play. His team was coming off a big win in the opening week of their junior league playoffs. Sadly, the scoreboard eroded the enjoyment and excitement of his first playoff victory by the end of week two. He didn’t want a snack at the end of the game or a hug from his Mom. He kept his helmet on, so no one could see the heartbreak that leaked from his eyes. He loved football and the opportunity to play a sport he loved. But, it just didn’t feel right to be thankful for the game after experiencing a loss.

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The Chasm Between Feeling and Knowing

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his suffering, becoming like him in his death. —Philippians 3:10 (ESV)

Our feelings often betray us. Our emotions can lead us to erroneous conclusions regarding circumstances in which we find ourselves and the people with whom we interact each day. I find myself guilty of allowing a certain feeling I get to dictate how I respond to everyday life. I may feel uncomfortable in a certain situation and have often allowed this feeling to direct the choices that face me. Let me explain: have you ever encountered a stranger on the sidewalk who has made you feel uncomfortable? I have, and more than once I have avoided eye contact, walked the other way, or hurried past that person in an attempt to get out of the situation. Why? Because I had a certain feeling and allowed that feeling to influence my behavior, even without knowing the truth of the circumstance in which I found myself. Now please hear me: I am not saying you shouldn’t be wise or that you should ignore your gut in a situation. I am not advocating a laissez-faire approach to life or throwing caution to the wind when it comes to certain situations and encounters. However, I do believe we allow feelings and emotions to dictate our actions instead of the truth of the particular situation.

There can be a larger-than-life chasm between what we know to be true and what we may feel about a situation. Now, should we be cautious in using our judgment when we do not see the truth of a situation? Absolutely! Many believers know what truth is but refuse to walk in the truth because their feelings hold them at bay.

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Dining in the Presence of the Enemy

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all my days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live. —Psalm 23:5–6

My family watched professional wrestling when I was a kid. In the mid-1980s, professional wrestling was very localized. I was born in the South, so a lot of the wrestlers I grew up liking were from places like Atlanta, Georgia, or Charlotte, North Carolina. One of the things I loved about professional wrestling was the way the promoters wrote good storylines. The promoters behind the sport came up with colorful characters and plots that made us enjoy the good guys and dislike the bad guys. Every Saturday night, my family gathered around our television to watch the world of good-versus-evil come to life in a scripted display of athleticism and showmanship. We cheered on our favorites and shook our fists at the bad guys.

One of the things I’ve noticed about worry is that it makes everything and everyone seem like the bad guy. As I’ve mentioned, anxiety makes circumstances and situations seem more significant than they are. Worry also can cause conditions, events, and often people look like the enemy. Anxiety and fear often will make us paranoid, making us believe everyone is out to get us. Stress has a way of making everyone and everything the enemy.

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