“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Prov 4:23
Do not rely on your feelings alone. Instead, anchor yourself in the promises of God’s Word, the Bible (Prov 3:5-6, Jer 17:9). We are called to live by faith, placing our trust in the reliability of God and His promises, rather than being swayed by our emotions (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Heb 10:38). Just as a truck can operate with or without a trailer, our faith should be firmly based on the trustworthiness of God and His Word. Emotions, while they may accompany our faith, are not the driving force. They are like a trailer: they cannot pull the truck but can follow it. Our relationship with God, built on trust in His Word, should guide us, while our feelings simply follow. We know that emotions are not inherently negative; they can be reflections of our deeper spiritual state. The key is to ensure that our decisions and actions are guided by God’s Word, not merely by transient feelings (Gal 5:16–17).
Desires, whether they seem good or bad, are not always accurate predictors of God’s will or our future. They do not necessarily indicate what is meant to happen or what God’s will is. James 4:3 reminds us that desires can sometimes be selfish and misaligned with God’s purposes. Even strong, positive desires don’t automatically indicate divine intention. It’s crucial to discern what these desires reveal about our deeper longings and motivations, rather than assuming they dictate our path. For example, desiring a specific career or relationship might reflect a deeper wish for certain aspects of life, such as recognition or companionship. Psalm 37:4 encourages us to delight ourselves in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our hearts. Reflect on your desires in light of your delight in the Lord to understand them better and to align them with God’s Word (Matt 6:33).
David expressed a moment of profound struggle in his faith journey, just like most of us. He felt his feet almost slip, reflecting a time when he was deeply troubled by his envy of the wicked and their seemingly carefree lives. He was envious of their arrogance and success, feeling as if his own devotion and righteousness were in vain compared to their apparent prosperity. He says in Psalm 73:2-3, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
However, everything changed when he entered the sanctuary of God. In the presence of the divine, David’s perspective shifted dramatically. In Psalm 73:16-19, he describes his turning point: “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” He realised that the apparent success of the wicked was fleeting and insignificant compared to the eternal truths and values revealed in God’s presence. The sanctuary provided him with a clearer understanding, showing him that the lives of the wicked were ultimately worthless in the grand scheme of God’s justice and righteousness. David’s point here is that external circumstances or emotions may lead us to question God’s justice, but when we enter into His presence and seek His perspective, our vision is clarified. David’s shift in perspective came through worship and contemplation in God’s presence. He discovered that true worth and fulfilment are found in a relationship with God, not in the fleeting allure of wickedness and arrogance. Through this, David regained his footing and continued his walk with God, grounded in a renewed sense of purpose and understanding.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk