Emotion

It's sad to see people easily swayed by their own emotions. haha...i'm not excluded from this. Whenever we are in the mood of entertaining others, we may go around with a big smile on our faces, trying to be a good buddy to everyone. But when we go through episodes of unhappy events (e.g. just have had a small cut on your finger, someone has unintentionally offended you, dislike a person's attitude due to previous happening, failure in relationship, arguments with family or friends, frustration with studies and etc), we let our anger, frustration and sadness break loose either by beating others, mentally or verbally abusing our loved ones, putting on a touch-the-ground papaya face, staring into the thin air as if no one is around or showing cynical attitude.

What does God say when we face giants in our lives?

"Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18

God asks us to be thankful in ALL circumstances, whether it rains or shines. We thank God not because we receive material blessing (i.e, PSP, car, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, handphone, musical instrument, laptop) or when things going our way but because God alone is good. Being thankful means always be grateful even if there's only a dim light of hope. You might ask, "How can i be grateful since God allowed these things happened to me?!!" Well, i can tell you that life is not a bed of roses. We have to go through difficulties in order to make us grow (Too bad if you purposely look for trouble). if we were to sulk over every single unhappy event, we will only trap ourselves in bitterness and can hardly have breakthrough. That is why God commands us to be joyful always so that we will be freed from this bondage.

Consider Job who lost everything. First the loss of his properties with the news of his children death followed and was later inflicted by sores from tip to toe. During that period of agony, he didn't curse God for the mishaps that happened, however, he said this,

"Naked i came from my mother's womb, and naked i will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

May you find joy, peace and strength from God in times of difficulties.