I don’t feel like it.
That was a phrase I said to myself far too often. The truth is that I was coming out of a season of deep depression. This little phrase somehow kept me in that darkness. It felt like a valid reason and it gave me an excuse to avoid doing things I needed to do.
Laundry – I don’t feel like it. Paying bills – I don’t feel like it. Getting ready – I don’t feel like it. Going somewhere – I don’t feel like it. Spending time in God’s Word – I don’t feel like it.
I heard myself think those words over and over. But in a moment of clarity it occurred to me – it really doesn’t matter how I feel. My feelings may be good in several ways but they are not good at determining what I do and don’t do. My feelings can’t run my life.
If I don’t get ready to go somewhere I miss out on the community and sweet fellowship my soul craves. If I don’t go to church I miss out on experiencing the corporate worship I love to engage in. If I don’t go to dinner with friends, I miss the healing salve of hearing their stories and sharing my own. And when I don’t spend time talking with the Father and reading His Word, I miss the food that nourishes my soul.
I don’t feel like it…but it doesn’t matter how I feel.
That is my new phrase. I simply have to be faithful in the little things (though they may feel big) as well as the bigger things. I think it’s being faithful in the little things that gives me practice on being faithful in the big or important things. I mean seriously, if I can’t get my laundry done can you trust me to get anything else done?
And if I don’t spend time talking with God and getting to know Him in His Word, how will I be prepared to make disciples of all nations…or have anything worthwhile to say to encourage others.
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23
Young Woman,
What are you setting aside, not because it’s wrong, but because you just don’t feel like it? Whatever it is, big or small, let’s be faithful. Sometimes, it just doesn’t matter how we feel.
Would you pray with me that you and I will both be faithful…whether we feel like it or not.