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Relax in God's Presence Psalm 103:8-18
by Steve Fortosis "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:5). We have names for those we think show too much emotion: shallow, loony, crybaby, hysterical... Life holds experiences that elicit all sorts of feelings but some reactions are more acceptable than others. If we celebrate too long after some success, we may be perceived as gloating conceitedly. If we reflect extreme apprehension we may be labelled obsessed or phobic. If we express anger, even justifiably, sometimes we're considered unspiritual. If we shed tears a little too often, we're perceived as unstable or wimpy. If we rarely display emotion, people may say we're cold or anti-social. It's easy to see why some become so uptight about others' judgments that they tiptoe through life on emotional eggshells. God values the emotions he created in us. He would be the last one to harshly censure us for showing our feelings. The Bible bursts with emotion from Genesis to Revelation and God is often the main character in these scenes. That is perhaps one of the most unique things that differentiate God from the panoply of gods that parade through history, carved out of people's imaginations--wood, metal or images of spiritual darkness. He is a God who actually loves, forgives, feels pain, and even takes the initiative to seek after a rebellious human race sprinting away from the only One in history who can really set them free. Of course, because we have a fallen nature, sometimes we express emotion in unhealthy or destructive ways. But God gives us the freedom to learn how to be ourselves in the relaxed peace of his presence. Vital Reinforcement: We labor and kick back, we dream and express love, there are occasions of wonder and boredom---we sense terror, anger, and an ache to achieve something new or enjoyable. If, as we do such human stuff it is not just for show or for luck or to ensure our betterment over others, it is because it grows out of the richness of human interaction with the divine. The God of the Bible is one who finds us in those times in which, whether caught doing right or wrong, we are being most human. We must not lose touch with Him, even when life is tragic or frenetic. We must simply stop ourselves and reach out to touch reality, both physical and spiritual. Otherwise we can gradually drift away from the very One who gave us life and vibrancy in the first place. Life Focus: You can relax with God. He knows you inside out and understands your feelings completely. Dr. Steve Fortosis is a graduate of Talbot School of Theology. He is a professional writers and free lance editor and has taught for over twenty years. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |