Rise Above

        If I had to identify this season of my life, I would say it’s a time when I’m learning to not let my emotions get the best of me. God has been stretching me in the area of not reacting in my emotions. Often times my first inclination is to return an equal level of [insert emotion here] i.e. pettiness, anger, frustration, etc.

       I don’t always rise to the occasion but when I do, I am grateful. The lessons are teaching me patience. Often times in life when you do something positive the payoff isn’t immediate. You may feel inferior when you let someone’s petty comment go or when you don’t entertain a hostile exchange. But don’t worry, God is watching and taking note.

       “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
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            While I have been learning to not react in emotion, I’ve also been working on not holding onto emotions too long. It’s a natural inclination for me to want to cut someone off if they do me wrong…but I know that’s not sustainable! I’d literally have no friends or family! Lol

​          Not holding onto emotions is an exercise in forgiveness, especially in these trying times. When someone says a snappy comment or does something that hurts me, I try to step back and remember the meanness they are showing could be a deeper symptom of something that has nothing to do with me. That’s when I take my pain to the Lord and ask Him to help me forgive that person.

       “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12)

         God delights in showing mercy, should we not do the same?

      “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7: 18-19)

       “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

     As hard as it is to forgive sometimes, it’s not something that is above us. I encourage you to walk with God as He guides you in this area. I can personally attest, there are blessings on the other side!