Feelings

Feelings.

We all have them.

They come; they go.

High; low.

Good; bad.

Happy; sad.

Fulfilling; draining.

Fleeting feelings; persistent feelings.

Feelings that confirm and remind us who we are;

And feelings that try to convince us otherwise.

And if we try and might them to come and go as we desire

--they resist our efforts ever more strongly.

We fear if we let them stay

--they will eat us alive.

--they will bring us deeper into the pit we already dwell in.

But maybe;

Maybe if we let them stay;

Maybe if we let them stay, 

but don’t give them the floor;

Maybe if we let them stay, 

but don’t give them room to influence our responses;

Maybe if we let them stay, 

while we rest in Him;

…we will begin to reign.

…we will begin to rule our hearts.

Joy and peace are not dependent on our situation.

“How we are doing” is not dependent on how we are feeling.

Maybe if we let them stay, 

but don’t let them rule. 

Maybe if we live and operate out of who we are, 

right where we are, 

in the midst of the feelings 

(that are opposite of our identity);

Maybe we will learn their place and role.

Maybe we can allow them to teach us; 

mature us.

Maybe we can allow them to expand our awareness of ourselves; 

and of others; 

and of the Lord.

Maybe if we let them stay, 

we’ll find they won’t stay as long.

We’ll find that they get bored; 

starved; 

and that they move on.

We’ll find that they get frustrated and no longer fit.

We’ll find that their presence, 

or lack of presence,

Has no bearing on us.

No bearing on who we are.

No bearing on who others are.

No bearing on who the Lord is.

I don’t want to just make them go away.

I want to live abundantly amidst them;

I want to be taught; 

to be matured.

Nothing wasted; 

not even feelings.