How God and I Feel About It All

Oh yeh; I’m being vocal and rebellious! I’m also crying out to the Lord! God gave us feelings. We feel joy and sadness, anger and fear. These emotions test us. They can help or hinder us in our choice between right and wrong. It feels good to be happy. God wants us to be happy and He gives us richly all things to enjoy (I Timothy 6:17). The promise of heaven causes us to “leap for joy” even in hard times (Luke 6:23). But there are limits to our pursuit of a happy life. Some pleasures are sinful (Hebrews 11:24-26), and even enjoyments that are right must be kept in their place. Life is not a giant theme park where we get off one exciting ride and start looking for the next one. Fear is natural. It is good to be afraid when an oncoming car swerves into your lane or when you see a Black Widow spider crawling up your arm. It is good to fear what sin is, and what it will do to a person. “The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure” (Proverbs 14:16). Jesus said it is good to be afraid of hell (Matthew 10:28). But, the “fearful” will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). Some people fear man more than God. They are afraid to do right because of the sacrifices they must make or the persecution they must endure. They are confident when they should be afraid and they are afraid when they could be confident. Anger is a strong but volatile feeling. Some anger is right. God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). Jesus was angry with the calloused Jews (Mark 3:5). We need more righteous indignation in this evil age. But we must be angry over the right things and for the right reason. We must keep our anger in check or it will destroy us like it did Cain (Genesis 4:1-10). “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…” (Ephesians 4:26).

[Psalm 94] “The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.’ Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you - a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.” Amen. Today, we need God more than ever.