Much harder to experience the benefit

of being curious/expectant to see what Jesus does NEXT, in me, others, circumstances, when I feel lousy physiologically.  So He’s been retraining me to be compassionate toward myself when I feel lousy, and lower my expectations for the joy and peace that’s mine in Him.  Lower my expectations for getting comfort from believing in His sovereign reign over my life, and everyone’s life.  When I feel lousy, I just don’t CARE, am easily irritated, critical-judgmental, ready to bite your head off.  Well, on the inside.  I’m still nice on the outside.  Usually.  Confession helps, but I still feel lousy.  Thanking Him for the harrrd helps, but I still feel lousy.  Harrrd to be an enjoyer of others when I feel lousy.  Or an enjoyer of Jesus and His genius plan for my life that includes suffering.  Suffering produces perseverance, then character, then hope/faith/dependency.  Nothing compares with Jesus-dependency.  Costly, but a bargain.

— Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships, whose BIGgest idol has become feeling-good-physiologically, and when he does, and when freshly convicted of the sin of INdependence, he finds the Christian life soooo-much easier, and everyone around him benefits

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