Whenever we struggle to overcome something in life we usually seek to know why we cannot seem to overcome it. In such cases the tendency is to run to human reasoning for answers which usually leads to blaming others, or finding some excuse for why change cannot occur.
Sometimes the answers are so simple they allude us. I want to demonstrate from the Word of God how one simple truth reveals what it is that hinders us most of the time, if not always.
Have you ever felt emotionally numb when an occasion should have really stirred some sort of response such as remorse, or sadness, or joy and excitement in you?
Jacob loved Joseph dearly. He had many years before been told that Joseph had been killed, and shown a bloody coat of many colors as proof.
Jacob believed the story he had first been told by his other sons regarding Joseph’s death and he mourned greatly over it. Now, many years later, good news comes in. “Joseph is alive!”
One would think that Jacob would dance a jig and throw a party!
But look at how Jacob responds to such good news.
Genesis 45:26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
What exactly does it mean that Jacobs heart stood still?
It means that Jacob felt nothing. Jacob was numb to such news. There was no response, no emotion, nothing.
Why is Jacobs response to such good news hindered? It tells us. “Because he did not believe them.”
We have no real response to things when we do not stand in faith believing the report we receive. We are unable to rejoice, or to shed tears of joy, or tears of sadness when we do not believe.
Our hearts are moved by what we believe. This effects our emotions. This is why sometimes it takes time for something to sink in before the emotions catch up to us.
I know now that my belief effects my emotions, just as I know that when I do not believe what I hear I have no feeling about it.
Our emotions are equally effected by both belief, and unbelief.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
