Is there a melody in your heart?

Some days are easier than others. Sometimes I feel God’s presence so clearly and easily that the melody flows through me with ease and I feel like shouting and singing to everyone I meet about the wonderful grace of God. Other days aren’t as easy. Some days are downright difficult. I’m not talking about the physical health issues, yes, they are troublesome too, but they usually draw me nearer to God. This is more of a spiritual problem. Sometimes God doesn’t feel so close. It may because I haven’t been reading my Bible as often as I’m scrolling through my Facebook feed, which is sadly more common than I’d like to admit. It may be that I spent a few days letting my prayer life fall off and instead spent my time watching the television. Most of the time, it’s something like that, easily identifiable and fixable.

But every once in a while, it may be that I am actually doing everything I can to feel close to God, including Bible reading, study time and prayer time, but I just don’t feel His powerful presence. Sometimes that “feeling” of closeness needs to be replaced with faith. A knowledge that He is close even when I don’t “feel” it. So, let’s look at a few things the Bible says about our feelings. Shall we?

Jer 17 : 9
The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Eccl 9 : 3
This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

If that is the type of thing the Lord says about the heart, then maybe we shouldn’t put so much stock in our feelings. Don’t get me wrong, having that melody in your heart and that strong feeling of connectedness with the Lord is wonderful, but it isn’t representative of whether or not you are saved or whether or not you are in fellowship with God. Sometimes, He is carrying us through like the famous “Footprints in the Sand” and even though we don’t feel His presence, it is as powerful as ever, lifting us up over the hurdles life throws at us and guiding us through His word and the brothers and sisters in Christ that He allows in our lives.

So, the next time you feel God’s presence isn’t as palpable as you’d like, pray and ask if there is hidden sin in your life, that you need to resolve, ask God if there is something He told you to do that you are ignoring, but I don’t assume that every time you feel that way, it’s something you did wrong. Don’t give Satan the power to steal your faith and assurance because of fickle emotions.

Let your faith remain strong.

Heb 11 : 1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

And praise the Lord in song even when you don’t feel it. You might be surprised how a few stanzas of “In My Heart There Rings a Melody” brings back that “feeling” of closeness. It won’t always work, but sometimes the simple answer is to make a joyful noise.

Ps 95 :1-2
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Have you ever struggled with your emotions and your faith getting out of balance? What did you do?

(All verse references are taken from the Authorized Version of the Bible, commonly referred to as the King James Version.)

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