It was interesting to learn alongside my 6-year-old grandson that a box jellyfish has 24 eyes and 15 tentacles and is the most venomous marine animal. As we watched the teacher draw tentacles on her box jellyfish, she commented they could grow to be 10 feet long or more. Sometimes it seems more hands would sure be helpful. But then I realized, my “feelers” are already constantly getting in the way, and if there were 15 and each 10 feet long it would not be good.

We are in grave danger when we choose feelings over the fact of God’s promises!

Seemings and feelings are often substituted for faith. Pleasurable emotions and deep satisfying experiences are part of the Christian life, but they are not all of it. Trials, conflicts, battles, and testings lie along the way, and are not to be counted as misfortunes, but rather as part of our necessary discipline.

Streams in the Desert 1

Believe God’s Word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea.

Samuel Rutherford

There is wonderful joy ahead, joy unspeakable! Yet, for a time, we must endure trials and hardships. But it will be worth it all when we see our glorious Lord! May our trust remain strong, to reap a reward of praise and glory and honor unto Christ. Trusting in a Savior, Whom we have not seen and yet, we love, produces a great and glorious joy for the reward of our souls: An eventual, but assured deliverance into Christ’s Kingdom!

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9, NASB

When my “feelers” get in the way, I believe God’s Word and power, knowing Christ is my Rock.