THE GATHERING QUEASY

Do you ever have the moments in your thinking where you just have a sense that something bad is about to happen? I'm not talking about the kind of end of the world disaster, but more like one that just stabs at you and makes you feel ill at ease.

Perhaps the worse thing is not being able to identify what is inspiring the feeling. Plus there is the fact that since feelings aren't always correct we know from experience that at times they can't be trusted. Still, they can also flow from a intuitive part of our lives and be a yellow caution flashing light that is screaming, "warning, warning potential danger ahead."

The potential part is the problem. Potential doesn't mean guaranteed. It means it might happen and then there is the issue of "if." That translated into some kind of condition, which may or may not change the outcome.

There is a difference between worry and apprehension. Worry I think stems from attitude and experience. If we are brought to some point where we expect the worse then too often our worry ends up becoming a reality. Not that attitude is the only factor, but it just seems to affect how we act and the choices we make.

In the scriptures worry is regarded as a sin. Some might take issue with that interpretation, but in reality it is just an extension of our lack of faith and thus to that degree considered by the Lord to be a sin.

I haven't been able to stop worrying in my life. I know I shouldn't, but I still do. But even if I could it wouldn't deliver me from the issue of having those nagging times when you just feel something bad is about to happen.

Is it wrong to have those feelings? I don't think it is good to have them dominate your feelings, but they are at times a good hint that perhaps one needs to rethink a given choice. And I believe God can speak to us through such means at times. Not constantly, but I think his spirit can touch our lives in that way on occasion.

I don't feel this is one of those issues where you sit around claiming to have a word from the Lord. I've known people who did that. And while I do accept God can and does reveal himself to people I also know those who have claimed God spoke to them and they were always wrong. Not that they would admit it. That would never be acceptable since it would mean they were imperfect like the rest of us.

I still believe God answers prayers. Not always as we wish, but he does answer them. I also believe he speaks through his word and promises in scripture. Again not as we want, but in keeping with what he has already said.

As far as those gut feelings, well they do deserve attention. Perhaps not to let them rule our lives, but enough to merit prayer and thought providing we can see them with our mind and not emotions.