The Rest of Your Story 28: How do you feel?

As you know by now, I'm a "live from the heart" kind of girl.

That means some days (okay, a lot of days) my emotions try to get the best of me. So I've been asking God what to do with all these feelings.

As I prayed and pondered, this little sentence popped into my heart...

Emotions make great messengers and bad bosses.

Emotions aren't sin. They're actually really helpful. They tell us what's going on in our stories. Even Jesus was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."

So imagine a messenger running up to you (mine has a ponytail, cute t-shirt, and a mocha for me in her hand...thought you'd like to know).

If we listen to what the messenger has to share with us, turn to our Boss and ask, "What should we do about this?" then all is well.

If we turn back to the messenger and our back to the Boss everything changes.

Our emotions speak into our stories. 

The Author gets the final say. 

p.s. Keep thinking about your Story Statement...we'll get back to them soon!

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TODAY'S QUESTION: What are your feelings saying? What's true?

Every comment during the 21-day challenge = an entry for $50 to DaySpring.com, including the (in)courage shop!

Are you a blogger? Today we're having a "Rest of Your Story" round-up! If you wrote a post about your story on your blog this week, just link up below! You'll get an extra entry in the giveaway and we'll get to visit you!

Comments

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

What you have written is sooo helpful. As usual! :) When my messenger arrives sometimes I don't turn to the Boss until days later. In the 15 months since my husband died, my emotions have been all over the place, as you might imagine. My Boss has been Wonderful, as you also might imagine -- or KNOW -- so why it takes me days to turn to Him sometimes is hard to figure out. I'll learn, eventually. But I think I'll be remembering this post.

In fact, with Valentine's Day coming up and my husband's birthday shortly after that, my messenger has arrived with a message of sadness and loneliness and I've been spending way too much time turned to her and concentrating on her. I wonder what the Boss thinks we should do about this. As usual, I haven't asked Him yet -- and, also as usual, He's patiently waiting for me to turn to Him.

Thank you! and Blessings!

[Becky]

Sorry, Holley, but I forgot to add "What's true" to my comment. What's true is that...

Psalm 34:18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

And, like you said, "the Author gets the final say." :)

[Natalie]

Becky...You have so much good to share with others. May you continue to heal and continue to grow with the love of God in your heart.

I feel overwhelmed by the distractions, the paperwork, ...daily maintenance, people hurting, etc.

The truth is that our God is a God of order as He created the earth and then filled it with His beautiful creation. And that whatever I do I can do as for Him in His strength. If I take things step by step it will get done -perseverance in running the race. If I delight myself in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart...finish well, faithful servant!

[Stacey]

I helped to edit a book many years ago by an amazing author/speaker named Ney Bailey. The book is called "Faith is Not a Feeling". It really helped me to look to truth and not my feelings about my life or my walk with the Lord. They are not a healthy indicator of reality! I think especially for women this issue can be huge!!!

If I can ask for prayer, my church is hosting a special "Queen for the Day" banquet. We invite women who are struggling in many areas of life. They may be homeless, working on the streets, abused, single moms and the like. I'm sure their feelings have the potential to make them deaf to the truth. Would you pray that they would see, hear, and take in Truth tomorrow? And that we as the body of Christ would love and serve them well.

Thanks!Stacey

[dawn]

Holley-

Been feeling fairly emotional over here lately. Not sure why (i have some guesses though), but I don't really like it. Thanks for the reminder that they are only the messengers but not the boss.

I'll use them as a reminder to turn to the Author.

[Linda]

Emotions, issues, happenings? All the time, but God's got an "ap" for that! I just have to [remember] to open it; go to HIM :)

[pam]

that is pure wisdom, holley. i have so often found that the church encourages us to one extreme or the other - either emotions are worthless, dangerous, to be squelched at all costs, or the opposite - we are to embrace them, assume God is speaking through them, allow them to toss us like ships on a rough sea. you have summed up that balanced middle way beautifully. use them, accept them for what they are, even appreciate them as part of who we are, but do not let them rule us. only God has that right, and we must be grounded in the truth of what he says, especially when our emotions seem to contradict him. this is a big part of our faith walk, and an area where we can really help each other by reminding each other of what God says is true, rather than what feels true.

[autumnangel]

Emotions-wow! When you least expect it wham! they hit you and you don't know what to do with them, at least I don't. But after reading today's posting talk about a wake up call. Thank you.

This will be our first Valentine's day without dad, and although some days dad feels like he is right here with us, other days it's like we are waiting for him to come home. But PTL he is home and I have to remind myself often of this.

Lord we thank you for emotions that tell us we are alive. The joys we can feel along with the not so fun emotions are definitely a blessing, we are not robots but living loving human beings. Help us Lord to constantly turn back to you when the times are tough and we just don't know what to do with what has been placed in our hands, laps because Lord you know all, are here, and will help us through.We love you Lord and thank you for writing such wonderful stories for each one of us. Not all chapters are fairy tale like but we know the ending and we thank you because we know it's awesome.Amen

[noelle]

The messenger for much of my life has delivered notes of fear & despair...the boss has continually sent notes of hope & healing. While grieving my mom's death my messenger began to deliver those same notes... yet this very morning the Boss reminded me of 2 things: HE IS A GIVER of GooD things (not a taker!)After all John 3:16 all the way back to Genesis when he gave adam & eve everything in the garden! And He showed me that the theif comes ONLY to steal kill & destroy...ONLY--that is a powerful word. I will be choosing which notes i open, read & reread. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness, His word & that His mercies fall afresh every morning!

[Maura]

Holley,

I cannot believe what you wrote about today because I had my devotional time this morning and this is what I wrote:

Feelings

My feelings come and goThis YOU well knowThey are a flash in the panin light of Eternity's HandSo why do I listen so intently to what they speak?Why is it them over Your Voice I heed?

LORD, my feelings run so strongThey cut me to the quickThey rob me of TruthThey have even made me sick

But my feelings lead and guide meTell me when something is wrongThey are a gift from YOUThey are part of my life's song

Teach me LORD to strike a balancebetween Your Truth and what my feelings challenge!

Your thoughts helped clear up the muddle in my mind. I know that I get in trouble when I only listen to my feelings, though they are not bad in and of themselves and you just reaffirmed the idea that our feeings must be countered with GOD's Truth. Thank you!