Navigating our Emotions on the Path to God's Will

God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Even though Moses was reluctant and felt unworthy of the job, God chose him to play a pivotal role.

Yet, as soon as Moses got his instructions, said goodbye to his father-in-law, and headed towards Egypt with his young family, God tried to kill him.

Why? Because he neglected to do a required task from God.

He neglected to circumcise his son.

At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)
-Exodus 4:24-26

Was Moses overwhelmed or distracted as he headed back to Egypt? Was he caught up in his emotions?

Perhaps he felt anxious returning to a place he wasn’t wanted or welcomed.

Perhaps he felt fearful knowing he would have to face Pharaoh.

Perhaps he felt grateful that God had chosen him to lead the people.

Or perhaps he felt joyful that finally his fellow Israelites would be freed from bondage.

However he felt as he left for Egypt, God almost killed him. Yes, God chose Moses. Yes, God knew Moses could accomplish this monumental task. But God was ready to hand the task over to someone else—in a split second.

Overwhelmed
Distracted
Anxious
Fearful
Grateful
Joyful

We, too, have experienced all of these feelings.

But no matter how we feel, we can’t let our emotions stop us from fulfilling our role, or our duty. We have an obligation to fulfil all the commandments. Emotions are not an excuse. Emotions don’t matter when it comes to fulfilling righteousness.

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
-Matthew 3:13-15

Even when we know God is working powerfully in our lives, we can’t stop doing our part. We must carry out all that God requires.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
-Matthew 7:21-23

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Download the Fearless in 30 Challenge. Everyday, for the next 30 days, do something that scares you. Record your thoughts, actions, and results in your journal, and at the end of the Challenge review how far you’ve come.