MIXED EMOTIONS

Read Nehemiah 3

When you read this verse, you may think of a national championship ballgame. One side is going to be shouting for joy at the end of the game. The other will probably be weeping because they lost. Either way, great emotions are going to be seen. The same thing was seen and heard when the foundation was laid for the new temple. Those who had seen the old one cried, but those who had not seen it shouted for joy.

Isn’t that the way we are today? When a new direction is presented at church or at school or at work, we either shout for joy or cry from despair. There really is no way to make everyone happy. However, the key question to ask is: is this the Lord’s leading? If it is, then we should all submit and rejoice.

TEACHING MOMENT

The same thing goes for our families. If you have more than one child, there will come a time when a family decision will make one child happy and the other sad. Even a small thing like where to go eat can cause mixed emotions. While one child is sitting at the restaurant all smiles, the other one sits with their arms crossed with a scowl on their face. Life lesson! Submission!

As God directs us in our surrender to Him, we will be faced with opportunities that will either thrill us or scare us. We will either be excited or sad. Our children will watch how we respond to those less-than-desirable situations. They will watch how we rejoice in the incredible situations.

When is the last time the Lord asked you to do something that you didn’t really want to do? Did you shout for joy or cry? God gave us emotions on purpose. He doesn’t expect us to squelch them. But He does expect us to surrender to His will and do what He asks anyway.

Father, I thank You that You love me enough to challenge me. You give me opportunities to serve You and others. Sometimes they are enjoyable and sometimes they aren’t. But I will serve You regardless.