Heart Healthy Words

The greatest day in history . . .Life-changing . . . unspeakable joy . . .unbridled enthusiasm!!  YET, I felt rather "ordinary."  This was the pinnacle to any preacher's year.  But there I sat, depressed and discouraged.  AND with good reason, I might add.  After all, this was the end of a week when reality collided with idealism and the reality was overwhelming.  My Passion Week that year had started with an unexpected $904 cell phone bill and a less than pleasant conversation with my very talkative 18 year old son.  Then the air conditioner quit working.  Then I was notified of an increase in car insurance.  Then there was an unsuccessful negotiation attempt with a faceless pharmacist at my mail-order pharmacy, the collection notice from a magazine I hadn't received in 2 years, and notification that an anticipated college scholarship for my "talkative one" wasn't going to happen. 

The devil knows the chink in my armor is financial and he had thrown a full fledge assault at me during Passion Week.  By the time Easter Sunday rolled around, I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically spent.  For me, Resurrection Day was anti-climactic and I felt even worse for feeling badly. 

But in the quiet of my study early that Easter morning, as I sat quietly recounting the rigors of the weeek, God reminded me of a great Easter truth:  How I felt had absolutely no effect on the fact that I belonged to Jesus.  Because of the fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus and because of my personal faith in Him, my feelings were irrelevant.  I was a Christian even when I didn't feel much like one.    I rejoiced in the truth that my hope bloomed on the stem of faith and the root of fact. 

Occasionally, when the needle of reality deflates your spirit, remember this truth:  It's OK if you don't always feel like a Christian as long as you know that "by grace you are saved through your faith.  It is a gift from God, not of works lest anyone should boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Look at this way.  As a follower of Christ, you travel through life like a train.  The fact of Jesus' death and resurrection is like the locomotive that drives the train.  Your faith is like the coal car, prviding the fuel that powers the locomotive.  Your feelings are like the caboose, useful at times, popular in some cultures, but not really essential to reach your destination. 

Even the most mature of Christians will have bad days.  When we yield to the pressures and the accuser whispers in our ears that "real Christians" wouldn't feel that way, remember the words of Psalm 103:14:  "For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust."  Jesus understands our humanity.   Rejoice in the FACT and keep the FAITH regardless of how you feel and God will help you emerge on the other side of your trials with victory.