Emotions

Brother says: 

Sister asks me if I am happy.

For a long moment I could not answer 

Because… 

There is no joy in my heart

My heart is not in high-spirits

I am not experiencing euphoria 

For I am about to choose

I am about to sacrifice

Something that brings joy 

Does it mean I am not, or cannot be, happy?

What is happiness then? 

God sometimes asks us to give up something even if it gives us joy

God sometimes tells us to sacrifice something even if it lifts us up in high spirits

God sometimes allows pain to touch our lives and extinguishes the euphoria in our hearts 

But now, I remember 

In the garden of Gethsemane

Jesus was crying 

For some pieces of silver

Jesus was betrayed 

In the Roman garrison

Jesus was tortured 

In Golgotha

He was nailed on the cross

Jesus endured the intense pain, the humanly unbearable torture and the betrayal of his love.  

In the end…was Jesus happy?  

Perhaps, happiness lies not

in the feeling of joy or in jubilation 

but in the calmness

and peace

of the heart. 

At the moment of His death 

Jesus was calm

Jesus was at peace  

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” 

Yes, Jesus was happy.

Let us glorify God in our lives!

 

Sister Replied:

Battling with our emotions is one of the hard fact we face in our lives. Specially if it entails major decisions and crossroad to unravel. The mystery of life and its uncertainties can sometimes put a halt in our day to day existence.

Human as we all are- we are sometimes impaired by our emotions; may it be positive or negative, it tends to affect us in certain ways. At times we are in Euphoria- over joyed by circumstances and passionately in love wth a person , thing or event. We even tell ourselves that we can  smell the exact scent of how we feel or literally taste it.  Or if loneliness sets in, depression comes quickly knocking in our doorstep and we whim and whine. When we are broken hearted – we can literally feel the burning pains in our hearts. Tears accompanies each sorrow, while the night  stand as witness in our agonies.

Emotions can empower us to be better individuals or bring out the worst in us.

God gave us our emotions and it distinctly differ us from other creatures. It proves that we are His special and unique creations. How we react in each given situation is what matter most.

How well we include God in our lives exemplifies our emotions toward things, person and events in ourlives. Do we treat it as a blessing?  A way of God molding us to the person He want us to be? Or we react based on how we feel at the spur of the moment?

It is  a choice that God is laying down for us. Will we allow our emotion to over rule us? or Will we take each step with GOD?  

Some years ago, there were instances in my life that I was over- ruled by emotions and these situations I regret til this day. Impulsive decisions have been done that were brought about by the unstability of my feelings- both of love and hate, joy and anger.  I believe then, that to experience life is throw yourself at the moment. It was a ‘come what may’ phase of my life.  Que sera sera. And believe me, it didn’t work!  

God has his way to purify my emotions. He made me realized that even my feelings He can protect, if I allow Him,  that I can show my love for HIM in the choices I make and feel. I can give HIM delight even if it seems so hard, even if the grey clouds brings me heavy heart, for as long as I offer it for His Glory.

We can  ultimately share our feelings with God  – whatever it is.  And if we just learn to listen ferevently, we can feel His presence as He embraces us in His bossom in each moment… each pavement of our emotions.

God can soften a harden heart, and brings new life to it.  God can erase confusion , if we direct our lives to him . God can bring peace to our lives, if we allow him. God knows our deepest recesses, even if we fail to uncover them. 

~~ 

In our lives, we glorify God!