(Love) . . . is not provoked (1 Cor 13:5)
Do you ever feel irritable? Do you ever struggle with being edgy, testy, or touchy at times? Do minor inconveniences bother you and people’s personalities rub you the wrong way? Do you get snappy when you know you should be happy? Could it be we’re not feeling good? Didn’t get enough sleep? Worried about the job? Not getting along with hubby? Your wife wants to move back to Topeka? Kids wearing you down?
Sometimes we really want to go off and let it all hang out, but we know that’s not of the Lord and it will only cause damage. We might justify exploding at times saying we were provoked and how much can a person handle? And we might say what’s the problem with that, I’m only human, you know? Well think of it this way: Giving in to irritability is like dropping a bomb. It might be quick in releasing but has lasting and destructive effects. It might make us feel good but what about the injury done to others around us?
Paul says God’s love will overcome irritability. God’s love is other-centered and cares about the feelings of others. When God’s love is flowing in our hearts then we will not yield to how we feel but instead have self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Then we can settle down and start to pray and get the peace of the Lord back. It’ll be like rain filling an empty well.
“So, let it rain, Lord! We want to be a blessing and not a bomb!”
. . . the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:5)
Louie