4:168 – The Circle of Life Leads To a Circle of Emotions

#faithbites #faithjourney circle

Setting

What a crazy few weeks this has been. My mum passed away, my daughter’s birthday, Father’s Day, and remembering my father, a family member becoming their true self, and so many other things. It has really got me thinking about the circle of life. So many ups and downs and I’m glad that God is greater than all of that. I am still trying to process all of this. and haven’t mourned my mum yet. It seems when there is an up there is a down and vice versa. Sometimes I wish there was a guidebook on how to grieve. At the same time, I’d love a guidebook on how to experience joy effectively.

Today’s #faithbites is just about acknowledging the emotions that come with all of our ups and downs. It’s ok to experience those emotions in your own way and your own time. God gave us emotions to explore his creation and our lives with each other.

Today’s Questions: How do you experience grief and happiness? How does your faith help you through life’s ups and down.

Scripture

• Ecclesiastes 1:3-5 (GWT) – ³ What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun? ⁴ Generations come, and generations go, but the earth lasts forever. ⁵ The sun rises, and the sun sets, and then it rushes back to the place where it will rise again
• Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Reflection

We can’t help the way we feel. That is how God made us and we have those feelings. Don’t let the world tell you how to feel, how to show those feelings, or when to feel. It may be months or years after a loved one passes and you just break down. It could laughing at the funeral kind of day. When we put God at the center, we can weather the emotional rollercoster. It is a circle of life and a circle of emotions.

Likewise, and this is the hard part, we should judge anyone for how they feel or who they are. They have the same rights we have. YOu may look at someone laughing at a funeral and think that person is a moron. That’s who they are, (the laughter for grief, not a moron). Someone may look at your silence as indifference when you are processing a celebration or a grief. It is ok.

As we close, remember God wants us to live in communion with each other. He wants us to share the burdens, multiply the celebrations, and enjoy one another. He didn’t build us to bottle up our feelings or chastise each other. It is ok to cry. It is ok to laugh. Be who and feel the way God made you.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we are experiencing, I am experiencing, so many ups and downs in emotions. I pray for peace for those experiencing grief and transition in their lives. Help them find their true selves. You know who you want us to be, don’t let us fall victim to what the world wants. You made us who we are, let us live that way. For those of us who are celebrating new life, birthdays, and other celebrations, let us experience the true joy of it. Let us know that all good things come from you and you alone.

Lord, we ask for your balance in these emotions. Not to stop us from how we experience them, but to let ourselves feel the emotions fully and use them to grow.