Do you consider yourself an emotional person? Are your highs high and your lows low? Do you love to laugh, yet easily shed a tear over the heartbreak of another? Does a toddler warm your heart, and does a puppy melt you? Do you hate good-byes? Do you get uber-excited about every new opportunity to serve? (I’m working on that one.) Does a song of praise, the truth of Scripture or prayer often elicit tears?

That describes me. However, society tends to view the term “emotional” negatively. I prefer to refer to myself as passionate.

Of course, emotions were God’s idea for good reason. Emotions are a blessing to help us navigate through and enjoy life’s complex map of relationships, decisions, and experiences.  Some of us are more blessed than others, and our personal GPS is always recalculating in search of spiritual balance.

Yes, I am a passionate person. 

I sincerely believe that the Christian walk is far more difficult for the passionate person. Why?  Because there is a huge chasm between what we know to be true and what we’re feeling, and that chasm can throw us off track. I didn’t fully grasp this concept until I married because it wasn’t until then that I was forced to confront it myself and then try to explain it to my husband.

I can’t even remember what the specific crisis was. All I remember is that I was really down. My happy-go-lucky husband was frustrated. He asked me to share my feelings, which I did. (Girls, you know what’s coming.) What followed was a sermon on God’s sovereignty and truth. Bill was eager to respond to me according to his vows as head of the house and spiritual leader. He has always taken these responsibilities seriously. But, as a new bride, I was stunned. Did my dear husband not know the depth of my faith? Did he question my foundation? As far as I was concerned, the only tool he needed to pull out of the box was a hug.

Several days later I was able to carefully articulate to my sweet William that what I know to be true never changes. What I’m feeling, however, can be as fluent as my hormonal upheavals or pain swings. In other words, dear husband, “Please put the spiritual Band-aids away and trust me. This too shall pass.” That was nearly 30 years ago. Bill has seen my faith tested time and again, and he no longer questions its depth.

I am not suggesting that there are no spiritual or scriptural answers for discouragement, not at all. Scripture is replete with hope and exhortation for those who despair. Jesus is the author of hope, the source of joy and the foundation of all that’s good and right. I am speaking to those of you who are passionate:  hang in there. Sometimes it’s a little harder to reign in truth when emotions are running rampant. For me, it has helped tremendously to identify the problem, to know it is a temporary derailing that will not, cannot separate me from what I know to be true.

Feelings will come and go, but I know what I know. Truth is truth, and it never changes. I’ve walked with my Jesus through years of trial, and He has been proven faithful. His faithfulness has borne out the unshakable truth of Scripture time and time again.

On solid Rock I stand.

Joy in Jesus,

Jacquee