THE REAL YOU

How would you describe yourself today?  I don’t mean whether you are short/ tall; thin/ fat; black/ white; but the “inside you”, the REAL you? Perhaps if you were totally honest, you might say you were feeling insecure; angry; joyful; unhappy; blessed; tired; or maybe a mixture of a number of emotions and feelings….

We can be encouraged in knowing that some of the characters in the Bible equally struggled with their emotions and feelings:

David: I am a worm not a man, scorned and despised by the people (Psalm 22:6)

(Feelings of REJECTION/ SELF-REJECTION)

Elijah: “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4)

(Suffering DEPRESSION/TIREDNESS)

Isaiah: I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5)

(Immersed in WORLDLY ways)

Jeremiah: I am only a child (Jeremiah 1:6)

(Feeling IMMATURE/ INSIGNIFICANT)

But look at these two New Testament characters:

The disciple John: describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20). Why? Because he had a living relationship with Jesus and knew he was loved, and his identity was now aligned to that of Jesus, his Saviour.

 Mary of Bethany, Lazarus’s sister: she poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3) Why? Because she had a heart full of love and gratitude to Jesus, loved sitting at His feet, and listening to Him (Luke 10:39)

Our attitudes and feelings vary depending on the circumstances we experience on a day-by-day basis, but lasting joy comes when we remain in the love Jesus has for each of us. In Christ’s own words: Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:10, 11)

 “Remaining” speaks of being anchored and unmoved. Remaining in Jesus presence is the secret of overcoming the negative emotions and feelings we experience.