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.
Continue reading