“When the people recognized Jesus, the news of His arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged Him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of His robe, and all who touched Him were healed.” (Matthew 14:35-36 NLT)
When our lives are in turmoil and chaos is guiding our every move, perhaps the reason we’re struggling so much is because we haven’t recognized who Jesus is. In the verse above the people who were healed, first needed to recognize who Jesus was and put their faith in Him, evidenced by their positive response to His permission to touch His robe.
What’s holding you back from coming to Jesus for healing? What is it in your life that has your stomach in knots and your emotions in flux? Why is it so hard for you to reach out to Jesus and allow His presence to make you whole? Toby McKeehan wrote: “When you are hanging by a thread, make sure it is the hem of His garment.”
Even for believers in Jesus, life can be cyclical. What does that mean? It means things can be going great, then something large or small can change our direction of thought, attitude, or mood. It doesn’t have to be anything major, it can be a cross word, even a wrong look from someone, a disappointing text or troubling conversation and we head into a downward spiral.
As a young boy my parents would say to me and my sisters when we’d gotten our feelings hurt: “Don’t wear your feelings on your sleeve.” In other words, don’t let your emotions be so subject to someone else’s words, tones, or attitudes. We used to say of someone who could easily be set off that they had a short fuse, or they had a chip on their shoulder.
Some people just seem more volatile than others, in terms of their emotions, but when it’s me or you and our heart’s desire is to walk pleasingly before the Lord, it’s important that we keep a tight rein on our emotions, both positively and negatively. That isn’t to say that we become a zombie and be emotionless.
The Lord made us to be emotional, but emotions can be misleading and get us in trouble. There needs to be balance for all of us, governed by the Holy Spirit and honoring to the Lord. And please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not suggesting that we not express emotion. We must, it’s a vital part of who we are as believers. We’re to love the Lord with our heart, mind, soul, and body, but where we get in trouble is when we let our emotions lead us, rather than our mind.
One of my biggest areas of struggle is my emotions, so, I seek the Lord’s directives when I’m low, high, or in between. My desire is to honor and obey the Lord regardless of how I feel, but when I’m really low, that’s when I need to get someone else involved. My wife, a godly brother, someone who can help me be more objective about what I’m feeling and experiencing.
There are times, especially if we’re not following Jesus, when the Lord allows us to hit the proverbial “bottom” to help us finally see our need of Him. If that’s you today, call a believing brother (if you’re a man) or sister (if you’re a woman) and ask them to help you give your life to Jesus. If no one is available, click this link to Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge to God to help you understand how to give your life to the Lord.
My love and prayers are with you.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 