I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. (Ps. 13:5)
Our feelings often lie and try to control us. And, with the introduction of social media, we find ourselves experiencing the ups and downs of our feelings more than ever. Many of us spend a significant amount of time on our phones checking to see what our friends are posting. We also spend quite a bit of time examining the responses to our own posts. Research shows that when we receive positive responses, such as likes on a post, it triggers the production of dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure. The production of this chemical causes us to feel happy and experience an emotional high. Yet, when those feelings leave, our emotional high and happiness often do the same. Rather than basing our joy on objective truth, we allow our feelings to determine when we are happy.
The Word tells us to place our joy and happiness in the unchanging truth of God’s unconditional love and gift of salvation. When we do allow ourselves to find joy in the things of God, then we will experience never-ending joy filled with peace that exists even when our feelings don’t align.
The world, and all it has to offer, cannot provide a joy that transcends feelings. True joy and happiness that transcends must come from the objective truth of God’s unfailing love.
When circumstances steal your happiness, find joy in his love for you.
Tara Klein, a lover of words, shares her imperfect, unconventional Christian journey as a female, mother, and wife to invite others into God’s unconditional love.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
