Emotions are a Funny Thing

It's so easy to feel like our circumstances rule our emotions. Personally, when my son is doing well, I handle things better. When he has a rough day, my day becomes rough. I'm the first to admit that everything in this household runs around him and his care, mostly because he is total care. I live my days walking on emotionally thin ice, praying nothing breaks.  I've even "bragged" before about being able to go from the mountain to the valley in less than 3 seconds! That's fast. LOL. But it happens.

Paul had that opportunity, too, I assume. A quick run-through of 2 Corinthians 11 reveals that he was beaten, stoned, and left for dead, faced dangers on every side, was shipwrecked three times, and drifted out at sea for days. If anyone had an excuse to just give up and sit down, it would be Paul. 

As caregivers, we can understand what it is like to have our worlds stripped away. We all face it on some level. Paul could have felt sorry for himself. He could have curled up in a ball and slept the days away in depression because of his loss of freedom. I don't know about you, but I've felt that way from time to time. 

Paul's spiritual burden for the churches he birthed as an apostle was still with him. Last time I checked, God didn't change a person's spiritual calling just because their circumstances didn't look like they lined up right anymore. (Romans 11:29  - God doesn't change His mind.)

It may not have looked like Paul imagined when he started the churches, but he didn't abandon his call. He turned to pen and paper. He started writing letters to the churches he loved. He used what he had to do what he could. He had no idea we'd be reading his letters to the churches in 2026! He followed his heart instead of his emotions.

Emotions are a funny thing. For caregivers, I think they are one of the hardest things to manage. We suck up a lot of emotions many times to just keep caring for our loved ones. The tears of grief are silently wiped away so we can get to the next task without letting them know. Emotions don't sleep when our loved ones are resting. They can be all over the place. I'm sure Paul's were too.

I love the thread of grace that Paul lets run through his story. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, he talks about how God's grace is always enough. In Romans 8:37 he talks about how IN all these things (whatever our "things" look like) we are conquerors. Notice he didn't say we would conquer the things. Paul said in them we are still conquerors.

Today, I may feel defeated, down, or discouraged, but I will remind myself that right here in my stuff, God makes me a conqueror. I'll meditate on His abundant always enough grace that is carrying me today. I will choose to be thankful for the work of Christ in my heart that didn't take a break or run away when life took a wrong turn. I will think about how God stays in it with me - so I know I can trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

Check out my latest release. Command Your Morning, Part 2. This 31-day devotional is the second one in my series Command Your Morning. (Yes, I already started on part 3 - and you're gonna love it!) Take a 31-day journey through Psalm 119 as you practice setting your intention to point your heart at God each day. It's available on Kindle and Print. Check it out!