Switch from being Correct to Being Compassionate

Many times what makes suffering so difficult isn’t the suffering itself, but the emotional turmoil that accompanies it. Suffering brings anxiety, despair, and anger, and these emotions often lead us to do things we never thought we would do. Temptations become more intense and our self-control crumbles under the weight of it all.  Paul is writing this letter to prepare us for when this kind of suffering comes. Though we try to avoid suffering completely, Paul makes us face the reality that suffering will come—especially when we are followers of Jesus. With suffering will come emotional exhaustion, but we don’t have to be controlled by our emotions. Despite what we may have been taught, emotions aren’t bad to experience. We can acknowledge our emotions in the midst of our suffering, but we don’t want to be controlled by them. Paul writes this letter to point us back to the truth of who God is, so truth can take the driver’s seat in times of suffering. Our suffering is not surprising to God. Our emotions are not foreign to him, either. Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions without sinning. He was able to do this by clinging to the God of comfort. We have the same access to God and to the truth that our soul craves when we are being swept away by a current of sin and thrown around by waves of emotion. Reflection/Discussion Question: What are some truths about God to remind yourself of when you are emotionally exhausted?

We rarely notice we are being distracted until the deed is done and our minds and hearts are far from where they are supposed to be. One of the enemy’s most frequent battle strategies is to keep us distracted. Just as long as we are preoccupied with trivial matters, we won’t focus on engaging in the spiritual battle with the weapons of Christ. If we are distracted just enough, the enemy can keep us from the work Christ is doing in our lives. He may distract you with worries about your looks, a fractured relationship, problems around the house, lack of money, hunger, a fear of missing out on something fun, a busy schedule, comparison, small annoyances, nagging thoughts, social media, future plans, or pain. He’ll do whatever he can to keep up distracted, removing our focus from truth and moving it onto things without eternal significance. As long as we are distracted, we are vulnerable to attack. One of the most effective ways of fighting distractions is to take control of our minds. We are not a victim to our thoughts, we can actively take control of our minds. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV). And Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (NIV). This kind of thinking takes continual practice, but it is worth it. The more we think in this way, the more we will begin to act this way, and the less often we will fall victim to the enemy’s distractions. Reflection/Discussion Question: What can you start doing that implements the kind of thinking Colossians 3:1-2 and Philippians 4:8 talks about?