Praise God Through Every Emotion
Today I woke up not feeling 100%. I had a headache and was cramping, and I had intended on sleeping in as it is a holiday. After getting up to get water and pain medicine, I knew I was not going to fall back asleep. Frustration. Then I walked downstairs to smell cinnamon muffins my husband must have made. My heart softened with thankfulness towards him. Yet even as gratitude surfaced, frustration wasn’t far behind. After breakfast the kids all played, but also asked constant questions. Annoyance. I thought of all the laundry I needed to fold, the garden that needed attention, or the family time we could have on this day off. Overwhelmed. We later grilled out and ate lunch on our newly remodeled patio. Calm. After lunch we enjoyed a family bike ride. Thankfulness. Have you ever had such a back and forth day emotionally?
My emotions shifted constantly, but God was steady, calling me to see His hand in it all.
Giving God Glory
How can I give God glory in this? I can thank the Lord that He loves and pursues me even when my emotions ebb and flow. I can look back on this day and see the sinfulness of my own heart. How easily irritable I am from my own expectations not being met. I can thank the Lord for revealing my sin to me, and thank Him for being at work in my heart. When my children’s requests overwhelmed me, I saw how quickly my heart defaults to irritation instead of service. I can thank Him for a family to love and the chance to grow in sanctification by putting their needs above my own emotions. Only God has the power to change that in me. And recognizing God’s power over mine? That’s giving God glory.
