They change like a barometer. And... IF we ALLOW them to, they will dictate our emotional and mental outlook toward life, which in turn control our responses.
Automatic chain reaction? Or no?
I say.... no!
Oh, it takes a battle to put and keep our focus in the right place, but it CAN be done. And often it's over and over and over again.
Emotions are like jello, they don't stay long in one place with a single command, especially as circumstances ricochet from one wall of life to the other. However, as we FORCE our minds upon the Truth of God’s Word, slowly but surely, in time, our emotions will trail along behind.
The Macedonian church understood what the battle was all about. II Corinthians 8:2, "Out of the most SEVERE trial, their OVERFLOWING joy and their EXTREME poverty welled up in rich generosity."
In spite of the tumultuous conditions of their lives, they had not only joy, but OVERFLOWING joy. The harshness of life wasn't going to order them around and rob them. Verse 5 says they "....gave themselves FIRST to the Lord and THEN to us in keeping with God's will."
We have a fail-proof method that brings, even with an aching heart, joy AND peace.
So..... LET the winds of circumstances blow and as we give ourselves to the Lord, the joy WILL come.
