God’s Sovereignty and Some Emotions

by | Jan 17, 2015 | Faith

Somedays I wake up immensely thankful. The sunlight gentle nudges me awake, the kids have had  good sleeps (usually leading to me sharing in this good sleep) and the day looks bright and full of promise. I join with the psalmist and my heart sings, “my mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day” (Psalm 71:8).

 Today was one of those mornings. My heart was overflowing and I was so thankful for the blessings God continues to pour out on me (particularly in the blessings of my family). The children were cheerful, their mummy was cheerful. Dave and I were able to go and have a yummy breakfast together overlooking the beach  (while the cheerful children were loved up by their grandparents I might add). We then had a family afternoon enjoying the warm weather and waves at the beach. A full and wonderful day.

But then some days aren’t so wonderful. Some mornings my bleary eyes don’t want to open. The kids are cranky, their mummy is usually cranky. I progress through the mundane, sure it must almost be over (or at least nap time) but the clock is only just ticking over to 9am. 
 
Somedays fear and anxiety aren’t far from my mind and I worry about the future, the finances, the things I can’t control. The burdens of life seem to be heavier than usual. The weather is bleak. This time, it is my melancholic soul that agrees with the psalmist, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 43:5)
 
Emotions are fickle things. As women they often seem to have more ups and downs than our male counterparts. Sure, chocolate is an amazing thing. But in these swinging times, how do we know that we are pursuing the right thing? Is God real? How do we know he is working when we don’t feel anything? 
 
In a fantastic post on Desiring God yesterday,  “How Involved Is God in the Details of Your Life?” Jon Bloom (January 16, 2015) encourages readers to see that God is involved in the details of our lives. Whether we see it or not, whether we feel it or not, God is Sovereign and at work in our world and in the details. Through the life of Joseph, as documented in the book of Genesis, Bloom again and again points out that no matter how bad the circumstance, God was still firmly on the job. Bloom poignantly concludes:

The detailed narrative of Joseph’s life, among many other things, is a loving letter from your Good Shepherd (John 10:11) — the same Good Shepherd who guided Joseph through green pastures and the valley of the shadow of death, pursuing him with good all the days of his life (Psalm 23) — to remind you that no matter what you are experiencing, sweet or bitter, good or evil, no matter how long it’s lasting, he has not left you alone (John 14:18). He is with you (Psalm 23:4), he is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and he will be with you to the end (Matthew 28:20).

Growing up my mum had a wise saying, “Do not doubt in the dark what you know to be true in the light.” When we have these ups and downs (hormone-driven or not 😉 ) we can rest assured and be confident that God is working and is on the job. He doesn’t get tired (Psalm 121:4). He doesn’t get crabby or cranky, rather he is slow to anger and abounding in love (Numbers 14:18). In the meantime, the book of Psalms show us how to handle the full range of emotions. Whatever we are feeling, we can find comfort in the Word of God. We  also can honestly share our heart with our God who sees all, knows all and is working in all.

 photo credit: ~~~johnny~~~ via photopin cc

 

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