If you have studied the life of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels, you had to notice Jesus was a man of deep emotions.
He rejoiced, Luke 10:21. He had compassion, Matthew 15:32. He became angry, Mark 3:5. He was sad, John 11:35. He was troubled, John 12:27. He was grieved, Mark 3:5. He sighed, Mark 8:12. He became frustrated, Matthew 17:17. He had desires, Luke 22:15. He was full of joy, John 15:11. He loved (more than we will ever understand), John 3:16; John 15:12.
Mind you, though He ran the same gamut of emotions you and I experience, He never once allowed them to overwhelm His resolve to stay in the very center of God's will... in other words, He never allowed His emotions to lead Him into sin, Hebrews 4:15.
During the past year and especially in the past month, I have discovered I am a very emotional person (I've always suspected such). I have been on top of the world one day and down the next. Excited one moment and nervous the next. Trusting one week and anxious the next. Joyful at the beginning of the day and irritated by the end of it. Now, before you start worrying about my emotional stability, let me reassure you, this is normal.
From everything I've read and studied, missionaries will often go through the gamut of emotions when preparing to leave for a foreign work.
Think about it, they are leaving... leaving family behind; leaving the security and safety of the greatest country on earth; leaving their local church and brothers and sisters they have grown to love.
They are putting themselves at risk... in my case risking a 2000 mile passage in a small boat. They are risking personal health by going to countries with inferior medical care. They are at risk as foreigners in countries possibly laden with crime and hostiles.
They are sacrificing... sacrificing years of their lives to missions that may or may not succeed. They are sacrificing income (most missionaries live on a fraction of the income they could generate stateside). They are sacrificing the known for the unknown. They are sacrificing convenience for inconvenience... possibly great inconvenience.
Emotions... Yeah... I think they are normal under the circumstances.
In this raging storm of emotions I've been feeling so intensely for the last month, I have an anchor to my soul: HOPE!
The Hebrew writer said this:
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, Hebrews 6:10-11 NKJV.
He then followed that statement with this one:
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast... Hebrews 6:19.
The anchor of Hope is strong enough to steady my heart that has been stirred by so many emotions lately. The hope that men and women will hear the wonderful message of Christ and be saved. The hope that I am in the center of God's will in ministering to both the lost and saved. The hope that my life is pleasing to the One who died for me. The hope of heaven when my work on earth is finished and my time comes to leave this sin-filled world.
If you study Hebrews 6, you'll see the message is faithful steadfast continuance in the faith and the reward that will come to those whose faith moves them to obedience. Such obedience and faithfulness generates a hope that produces a long term underlying emotion that also steadies our lives... PEACE.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Brother... that anchor will hold!
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