Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – can the apparent war of felt emotions and embraced promises be settled as friends?
Mark 16:9-11 TPT
[9] Early on the first day of the week, after rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. [10] After she had seen Jesus, she ran to tell his disciples, who were all emotionally devastated and weeping. [11] Excitedly, Mary told them, “He’s alive and I’ve seen him!” But even after hearing this, they didn’t believe her.
Observation
Good news is so hard to believe, especially when I am in pain. Jesus had said this is what would happen, he would be killed and then raise again many times, Mary now confirms it has happened, but the disciple’s emotional state affects their capacity to receive the good news, news they desperately need. I see this in my life, and in the life of others, the before-time promises of Jesus, like peace, provision, presence, mercy, and being always available, in times of pain these promises are not received and applied. My Circumstances trump Her promises. Or is it my emotional state riding rough shot over the promises? How often do I miss the presence of the risen Christ, bringing the good news I need in my devastation, because of my emotional state?
Nothing changes God’s promises. She is unmoving towards me in keeping her promises. Even when my circumstances scream “ the end,” as in death on a cross would scream, it is not the final word, there is always resurrection life. I know I am not to ignore my emotional responses to my circumstances, but I must not become ruled by them. I can hold them, I can hold together ‘devastation and weeping,’ and promises of hope, peace and presence. These two appearing opposites are not competitors, they are companions. Embrace my emotional response and embrace my God’s promises, this is how to truly be alive. My emotional being and my spiritual being combined to feel and walk through my circumstances. To ignore either is to live less.
Knowing promises in times of devastation and weeping releases a depth of gratitude that walks me towards healing that surpasses any understanding. It raises my eyes and spirit to see and walk towards a new dawning, regardless of how distant, that gradually finds its way into my tomorrow. Her promises can sound so empty in all the churning of my devastation and weeping, but promises are not held without doubt, they are embraced with doubt, that’s faith. So I embrace her promises by faith, with my doubts in hand, and my emotional devastation screaming, this is life for all of us, and somehow as I walk with both in hand, a beautiful dawn emerges. And in all that I am changed beautifully. My emotional state moves from demanding centre stage to a memory that I now hold and look upon, without being shaped by it. The dawn I felt would never come rises unannounced and unexpectedly, and I walk into the promises given to me.
Application
My God will not be shaped by me, by my circumstances, even by confusing circumstances. I will shape my circumstances by him. I will live emotionally free to embrace and feel and express myself, but I will allow my emotions to drive me into the arms of Him, Her promises and presence, not away. I will live in the wholeness of emotion and spirit.
Response
Thank you for my emotional capacity and thank you for your never changing promises. This is a beautiful life when lived in the wholeness of both parts of me being expressed and alive. I will not make them competitors, I will see them as companions in navigating life. I love this blessed life you give me in all circumstances.
Meditation
Meditate – all emotionally devastated and weeping…..they didn’t believe her.
Consider:
Can I walk emotionally expressing and holding her promises?
How often is my emotional screaming blinding my belief?
JOURNEY DEEPER
