Friday, April 11, 2025

Feelings: The Last to Follow


As a Christian, I learned when walking by faith in the truth of God’s word, feelings are always the last to follow; they’ve been described as like the Caboose on a train because that is how long it takes for them to arrive at your words of truth. Psalm 30.5 illustrates this sequence beautifully to me, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (KJV). The Psalmist knew joy was not far off as he hoped and trusted in God to work as in times past.

For example, when a wave of depression and sadness hits me, Psalm 30.5 is my go to scripture along with other truths such as giving thanks to God in all things (1 Thess 5.18), counting my blessings, praying for those less fortunate, and trusting God to work in the situation; even though, everything I’m feeling that day tells me I’m sad and depress, but by the next morning, feelings of joy engulfs me because that is how long it took for them (Caboose) to catch up with the words I had proclaimed throughout the day before.

Another example, one day, when memorizing scripture, I didn’t feel like doing it, but then, Ps 40.8 came to mind, “I delight to do your will, O my God: yes, your law is within my heart,” I believed that meant to do it; even though, I didn’t feel like it, but by the next morning, feelings of delight overcame me because that is how long it took for them (Caboose) to catch up with my words.

Another example, feeling offended when family members didn't include me in an outing that was originally my idea, I wanted to lash out at them; wishing them a terrible time, but then, Ps 119:165 came into view as my Bible laid open, “Great peace have they which love your law: And nothing shall offend them,” so I hurtfully focused on that scripture that day instead of feelings of anger and offence, and by the next morning, I had great peace. When talking to them later, I didn’t gloat when they told me they had a terrible time; I had great peace about it, and maybe, God just wanted to save me from wasting my time and money; since, it turned out to be terrible. However, if I had gloated, I would have set myself up for a downfall. For, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4.6).

Other times, we experience up-days when everything goes our way and falls into place: we get the close parking spaces, unexpected deals at stores, hit all the lights when driving, didn’t have to wait in lines, receive good news, but by the next day, it comes crashing down where no matter what we do nothing works out right. There is a lot of truth in the expression, what is up must come down, and what is down must go up.    

The words and thoughts we speak today influence how we feel later. By maintaining a sense of balance in our speech within and without us much like the above examples, fluctuating days can turn into fairly consistent ones. For example, when we are having an up-day, counterbalance it by, although delighted, being humble; When we are having a down-day, counterbalance it by trusting God to work, and that joy comes in the morning. In Psalms, there are many scriptures reflecting this sequence and helpful in balancing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.