“There is a time for everything, 
       and everything on earth has its special season.
  There is a time to be born 
       and a time to die. 
    There is a time to plant 
       and a time to pull up plants.
  There is a time to kill 
       and a time to heal. 
    There is a time to destroy 
       and a time to build.
  There is a time to cry 
       and a time to laugh. 
    There is a time to be sad 
       and a time to dance.
  There is a time to throw away stones 
       and a time to gather them. 
    There is a time to hug 
       and a time not to hug.
  There is a time to look for something 
       and a time to stop looking for it. 
    There is a time to keep things 
       and a time to throw things away.
  There is a time to tear apart 
       and a time to sew together. 
    There is a time to be silent 
       and a time to speak.
  There is a time to love 
       and a time to hate. 
    There is a time for war 
       and a time for peace. ” 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NCV

Today’s Thursday tip is all about acknowledging the varying seasons of our lives…

I hope you will process today’s tip with a grain of salt: emotions are helpful but they are not what we should use to guide our lives. God’s Word must be the ultimate lamp to our feet and light to our path!

“If I choose to live out of my emotions, not telling what might happen or where I might go to salve my depression, dissatisfaction, or discouragement. Feelings fluctuate with the day, the wind, my hormones, circumstances, and human relationships. But because God told me he doesn’t change, I can choose to believe Him no matter how I feel…

I’m not denigrating the feelings and desires that cross our minds. Feelings aren’t what do us in, thought they constantly demand satisfaction. We are done in when we live out of those ever changing-feelings.”

– Luci Swindoll

My hope and prayer in taking time to acknowledge feelings and emotions is that we might take those very things to the One who brings joy out of challenging situations. Let yourself acknowledge your pain, but don’t let yourself stay in that place for too long. The hope is that in time we will move from grief to joy.

“…Crying may last for a night, 
       but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5, NCV

Following,
Ginger

p.s. A gentle reminder that while there is a time to cry… there’s also a time to release. More on this topic HERE.