God’s relief

Maybe I could be alone on this ‘merry go round’ in my life…inside my head…but I have a feeling other women often feel the same. (I shared this with a friend of mine to get her opinion and as I read it to her, she was groaning and said, “Yes! You just described me too!)

So, here is my saga about “feeling bad,” and what I’ve decided to do about it:

I spend my life feeling bad—bad, thinking I hurt someone’s feelings, bad that I didn’t get something done, bad that I let someone down or couldn’t come through with going to some place that I had said I would, because I wasn’t feeling well.

I feel bad because I didn’t say enough or said too much—bad because I didn’t have enough money to meet a need, or gas to get somewhere “important.” I feel bad because this or that, or when or where, or whose feelings did I hurt, or all the tasks I was supposed to finish on my lists, but didn’t. Aaaarrrggghhh! I can’t stand myself!

I’m so done…from now on I’m going to choose to feel what God tells me to feel about myself—by what he says about me, about what I’m doing or not doing, how I’m doing it or not doing it – and leave the rest of all those “feelings” in His hands.

I’d rather listen to what He says about me, because God is not a God of condemnation. He’s a God who loves us and cares about every detail of our lives. He knows our weaknesses, our strengths, our ups and our downs. He goes before us, with us and behind us, ever watching out for us through every single detail of our lives. He’s the good Shepherd watching over us with His steadfast love, everyday. I’m choosing to listen to His view of me.

Why would I waste my time “feeling bad,” when I have such a good God?

“O, Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:

Joanie Miller

Joanie Miller is the author of ‘Help Lord I Need Some Real Help Here.’ She has authored many children’ books. A woman after the God’s heart. She lives in the Bay area of northern California.