come

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.’” 

John 15:4-5 ESV

When we operate knowing our security is in the Lord, the creator of all, we are able to be in the world and not of it, to feel the emotions we were designed to feel but not let them shake us from our firm foundation.

God created us with emotions and in life, we are surely to feel all of them. As women, we often feel many of them in just one day! Throughout scripture, God encourages us to come to Him with our emotions – “come to me all who are weary and burdened,” (Matthew 11:28), “when I am afraid, I put my trust in you,” (Psalm 56:3), “when the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul,” (Psalm 94:19), “sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously,” (Isaiah 12:5). 

The common thread in these verses is that God invites us to come to Him. There is an encouragement and a longing for us to feel our feelings from a place of abiding. In our present age where there is a hectic news cycle, a busy holiday season upon us, preparations for a new year, and joyfulness and excitement woven throughout the wide gamut of emotions we’re going to experience, we as believers are called to feel our feelings in light of the foundation on which we stand. Rather than be jostled by the ways of the world, Jesus invites us to live in constant communion with Him, always abiding in His truth and His being. When we operate knowing our security is in the Lord, the creator of all, we are able to be in the world and not of it, to feel the emotions we were designed to feel but not let them shake us from our firm foundation. 

Friends, can we bring our emotions and feelings before the Lord, wherever they land on the spectrum? Can we process our feelings from a place of abiding, of meditating on His word and His character, of meeting with Jesus when we rise and speaking with him before we sleep? Can we present Him our feelings like an offering, knowing He will carry them? Whether we are in a season of deep sadness, overflowing joy, or just making it through day by day, let’s sit before the Lord remembering that we abide in Him, our great shepherd, powerful shield, and closest friend. What a safe and sweet place to feel everything.

Warmly,
Bailey

reflect:

What emotions am I processing? How can I bring them before the Lord? Am I truly abiding in Him? What would it look like for me to abide in Jesus today? 

additional reading:

Psalm 1:1-4 / John 15: 1-11 / Matthew 1: 28-30 / Galatians 5:22 - 23

centering prayer:

Jesus, thank you that you provide us a safe place to abide, teach us how to rest in you. We thank you for our emotions and ask you to meet us in all of them. When we are angry, sad, hopeful, joyful, etc., would we bring our feelings before you in prayer and surrender. Amen.