Do you ever have days where ugly thoughts and feelings seem to invade your mind? Unpleasant memories creep up, and the pain and hurt resurface. Maybe most days you do pretty well… You are able to push those thoughts somewhere in the back of your mind, and you don’t allow them to come back.
Other days, it’s just hard. Maybe you see someone who has hurt you. Maybe something reminds you of the way things used to be. For whatever reason, negative thoughts, hurt feelings, or anger towards someone or some event, seems to take over.
You can feel your mood change. You are sort of aware of how your thoughts keep coming back to this person or event. You know the feelings you are having aren’t good for you; they aren’t making a positive impact on your day; they are taking away your focus from more important things.
Yet, somehow, some days, they keep coming back.
On top of the negative thoughts consuming us, we have this feeling of guilt because we know these thoughts are not pleasing to God. We are commanded in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” On days when our feelings are overcome with anger and hurt, the last thing we are thinking about is “lovely” or “pure” things. In fact, we’re likely to be more consumed with thoughts of revenge, disgust, sadness, or hostility.
What do we do? How do we get over them? Around them? Through them?
Doesn’t God know that we can’t get over them? Doesn’t He realize that we’re struggling?
Friends, not only does He know, He expects our reactions. We are only human. We can’t overcome loss, heartbreak, or deceit on our own. He wants us to give it to Him. Surrender your struggles to Him.
You might say, “I have surrendered it to God. But I still have days where these negative feelings creep in!”
Of course you do!
And they are more than likely to continue, on this side of eternity.
But maybe, just maybe…on these days when you feel like you’re taking a step back; that you are losing the battle; maybe God’s wanting you to seek Him a little harder. He’s wanting to hear your genuine prayer a little louder. He’s wanting you to cling to Him a little tighter.
Psalms 55:2 tells us to “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.” James 4:8 tells us to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Let this be an encouragement to you friends, that when you feel like you’re farther from God due to angry and hurtful thoughts, He is actually seeking you out. He is waiting for you to cry out “God, help me in this moment!” He is there…arms wide open.
