Godly Mood Swings

Categories: Devotional,Psalms,Ecclesiastes,2 Corinthians,Hebrews

Do you experience swings in emotion? Do you struggle at times with a mood of defeat, fear, distance from God, negativity, wilting under pressure of poor health? Then again, at other times do you find yourself on the other side, in a mood of victory, feeling bold, assured that God is near, positive, living in exuberance?

King David experienced swings in his moods. His kingly journey was not simply progress from glory to greater glory.

Jesus also felt the full sweep of emotions.

He wrote a song about being transported from enervation to elation. He writes, “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

The apostle Paul said he had swings in his moods too. At one point he wilted under great pressures far beyond his ability to endure. He despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). Later he reevaluates those pressures as just “light and momentary troubles” achieving an eternal glory that far outweighed their magnitude (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Jesus also felt the full sweep of emotions. It was written of him, “for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

Solomon, under the perfect inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote there is a time for every activity under the heavens, a God honoring time. Perhaps he would even say there is a God honoring time under the heavens for every emotion (Ecc. 3:1).

Isn’t it nice to know that something as simple as perspective can help swing a mood from glum to glory?

Now that’s something to celebrate!

Author: Toby Larson

Toby Larson leads Celebration International. He is a husband and father of 5. Whether he's teaching, hitting tennis balls, sailing a Hobie, serving in Asia, skiing on water or snow, Toby is passionate about the love of God and the love of life. Read more ...