Battleground for our Hearts

Battleground for our Hearts

The other day I was doing a self-checkout getting some groceries. When I am participating in a self-checkout line, I am on a mission. I focus on what I am doing. After I was done paying and was sitting in my vehicle, I realized I didn’t notice the people around me. Here is the thing, the moment was sparked because I was frustrated. Sitting in my van, I was wondering why I was frustrated. Then it hit me, I wonder if people are frustrated in general. Are we all in a place where we are frustrated? If so, why?

Have we had emotional space to process the last couple of years?

This is a strong and challenge question. Who has time to provide emotional space? I know there are still many people who believe something along the lines of—if I take time for my emotions, I will be weaker. There are still people I talk with that consider emotions weak. I believe the frustration and anger currently in the air is a sign we are not providing space.

Recently, I found a book called Resilient by John Eldredge. I have been looking for a book that will address what a lot of us are feeling today. We all have been through a lot over the past couple of years. I understand our desire and need to move on. This book has helped me to embrace the importance of space emotionally. It’s good for us and good for our souls to process our emotions. Here is a good description of the book.

Resilient is your guide for emerging from global trauma with your faith and your soul stronger than ever. Each chapter opens with a true story of human resilience against the bleakest odds. Every chapter pulls your attention to Jesus himself, while practical tools throughout the book help revive your exhausted heart and mind. The peace and hope provided in Christ are always available to us—and his resilience never fails.

I want to encourage you to take the emotional space and process what has happened. Eldredge writes this powerful statement about the battleground for our hearts. “The great alarm the Scriptures are sounding is that our longing for life to be good again will be the battleground for our heart. How you shepherd this precious longing, and if you shepherd it at all, will determine your fate in this life and in the life to come.”

I am planning on reading Resilient with my life group and we begin this week. Consider reading this book or reading this book with a group of people.