“The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges —

Remind me of You, and I’m spoiled for anyone else!"

— Song of Solomon 7 MSG

 

“Jou kop is soos die Karmel en jou hare se vlegsels soos die fynste satyn.

Dit is so mooi dat jy selfs die koning bekoor.

Hoe wondermooi is jy tog nie en hoe volmaak die genot van jou liefde.”

—Hooglied 7

 

Feelings, wow, these emotions can make or break us; have you noticed? Women were once very careful to keep their feelings hidden, kept very much to themselves. Just watch older movies to get a sense of how different women used to be. But now, the woman of this century is not only allowing her feelings to be known, but her emotions are given full reign over everything. Feelings and emotions are allowed to take over and rule, or should I say ruin, her life. The primary reasons our emotions are destructive, I believe, is because we have no idea how much power our emotions possess, once again, for good or for evil. So, we use them unwisely, or should I say, they use and soon destroy us and everything we hold dear to us.

Gevoelens, wow, hierdie emosies kan ons maak of breek; het jy dit agter gekom? Vrouens was eens op ‘n tyd baie versigtig om hulle gevoelens weg te steek, hulle het dit vir hulself gehou. Kyk net na ouer rolprente om ‘n sin te kry van hoe anders vrouens in die verlede was. Maar nou, die vrouens van hierdie eeu laat nie net haar gevoelens bekend nie, maar haar emosies word volle teuels gegee oor alles. Gevoelens en emosies word toegelaat om oor te neem en te regeer, of moet ek sĂȘ om haar lewe te ruineer. Die hoofsaaklike redes waarom ons emosies verwoestend is, glo ek, is omdat ons geen idee het hoeveel mag ons emosies besit nie, weereens, vir goed of die bose. So, ons gebruik hulle onwys, of moet ek sĂȘ, hulle gebruik ons en gou vernietig hulle ons en alles wat ons na aan ons hou.

Women, in particular, are made up of many feelings that are generated by our emotions, and these emotions create the highs and lows in our lives. But what if we could actually learn to benefit from our emotions, by using our feelings as a barometer? This is the purpose of this chapter: to help each of us learn how to measure the changes in our emotional pressure, which will indicate that our spiritual atmosphere is changing and will show up in our feelings; we must redirect them toward the good, rather than the bad.

Vrouens, vernaamlik, word van baie gevoelens opgemaak wat deur ons emosies gegenereer is, en hierdie emosies skep hoogtes en laagtes in ons lewens. Maar wat as ons eintlik voordeel kan trek uit ons emosies, deur ons gevoelens as ‘n barometer te gebruik? Dit is die doel van hierdie hoofstuk: om elkeen van ons te help om te leer hoe om die veranderinge in ons emosionele druk te meet, wat sal aanwys dat ons geestelike karakter verander en in ons gevoelens ‘n verskyning maak; ons moet hulle na die goeie, eerder as die slegte herdirigeer. 

Recently women have taken a beating, in regard to their emotions. It really wasn’t that long ago, when a woman simply hid or controlled her feelings totally and completely in public, and even privately; however, it may very well have been that extreme that ushered in the complete opposite, which is now to “let it all out.” Many women, today, are literally out of control when it comes to their feelings—if so, she is being totally manipulated by her emotions, rather than using them, as I believe, God intended.

Onlangs het vrouens ‘n loesing geneem, met betrekking tot hulle emosies. Dit was regtig nie so lank terug nie, toe ‘n vrou eenvoudig haar gevoelens in die publiek weggesteek het of beheer het, en selfs privaat; nietemin, dit mag wel die uiterste wees wat die algehele teenoorgestelde ingelui het, wat nou is om dit “alles uit te laat.” Vandag, is baie vrouens, letterlik uit beheer wanneer dit by haar gevoelens kom—indien so, is sy heelteml gemanipuleer deur haar emosies, eerder as om hulle te gebruik, soos wat ek glo, God dit bedoel het.

Well then, should we simply control our feelings, or should we, instead, learn to use how we feel, so that we can actually benefit from our emotions?

Wel dan, moet ons ons gevoelens eenvoudig beheer, of moet ons, eerder, leer om te gebruik hoe ons voel, sodat ons voordeel kan trek uit ons emosies?

In the beginning of the Feminist Movement, many women (who were trying to prove that a woman was every bit like a man) began to deny that they had any emotions or feelings at all. These women stuffed their emotions and feelings down, only for them to erupt a few decades later into the foolish antics we see on television and in movies today. No one would have imagined how reality shows would not just foster bad behavior but encourage it. How many of us have seen at least one of the very popular reality shows that depict the sorry state of women who are completely out of control—their emotions flying everywhere for the world to see, and they are not one bit ashamed? Read what the Bible says, “‘Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 6:15).

Aan die begin van die Feministiese Beweging, het baie vrouens (wie probeer bewys het dat ‘n vrou net soos ‘n man was) begin om te ontken dat hulle enigsins emosies of gevoelens het. Hierdie vrouens het hulle emosies en gevoelens onderdruk, net om ‘n paar dekades later in die dwase manewales wat ons op die televisie en in rolprente wat ons vandag sien te uit te bars. Niemand sou hulle kon voorstel hoe realiteit vertonings nie net slegte gedrag kweek nie maar dit aanmoedig. Hoeveel van ons het ten minste een van die populĂȘre televisie vertonings gesien wat die storie uitbeeld van vrouens wat heeltemal buite beheer is—hulle emosies wat oral vlieg vir die wĂȘreld om te sien, en hulle is nie een klein bietjie skaam nie? Lees wat sĂȘ die Bybel, “‘ Wanneer hulle aan die kaak gestel word oor die gruwelike dinge wat hulle gedoen het, skaam hulle hulle nie eens nie, hulle weet nie van skaamte nie. Daarom sal hulle tot 'n val kom soos al die ander voor hulle; wanneer Ek hulle straf, sal hulle omkom, sĂȘ die HERE” (Jeremia 6:15).

Knowing that women were created, uniquely, with emotions, it is therefore extremely important for us to understand these emotions and then use them—by redirecting them in the proper way. In addition, once you share your feelings with someone, the emotions have escaped; it will mean dealing with them again and again and again. I’ve taught my children, especially my daughters (due to how we women are notorious for sharing our emotions too openly), never to speak about anything when there are negative emotions attached to them. Instead, like a storm, negative emotions will soon pass, and once they are again stable, only then is it safe to share them.

Wetend dat vrouens uniek, met emosies, geskep is, is dit daarom van uiterste belang vir ons om hierdie emosies te verstaan en dan te gebruik deur hulle op die regte manier te herdirigeer. Ter aanvulling, sodra jy jou gevoelens met iemand deel, het die emosies ontsnap; dit sal beteken dat jy oor en oor en oor met hulle moet afreken. Ek het my kinders geleer, spesiaal my dogters (omdat ons as vrouens berug is om ons emosies te openlik te deel), moet nooit oor enigites praat wanneer daar negatiewe emosies is wat aan hulle geheg is nie. In plaas daarvan, soos ‘n storm, sal negatiewe emosies gou verby gaan, en sodra hulle weer stabiel is, net dan is dit veilig om hulle te deel.  

So, when do our emotions begin to run havoc in our lives? For many women, it is when someone has hurt us, often through rejection. However, for most women, it is due to being denied what we want, when we believe we deserve better. This is especially true, when we, as Christians, believe that someone or something is standing in the way of our miracle! We all feel that, don’t we?

So, wanneer begin ons emosies om verwoesting in ons lewe te saai? Vir baie vrouens, is dit wanneer iemand ons seermaak, dikwels deur verwerping. Nietemin, vir meeste vrouens, is dit omdat dit wat ons wil hĂȘ ontken is, wanneer ons glo ons verdien beter. Dit is spesiaal waar, wanneer ons, as Christine, glo dat iemand of iets in die pad staan van ons wonderwerk! Ons almal voel dit, doen ons nie?

So then, what are we, as godly Christian women, women who “smile at the future,” women who exhibit a “gentle and quiet spirit,” supposed to do with our very real feelings? One way is to use a principle that I wrote about in a previous chapter, when my son’s fiancĂ© believed the miracle of getting married was from God, but her desires didn’t match up with the authority over her. When someone is in our way (or maybe it’s just our limited ability to make something happen), when it’s what we truly believe God wants us to do or have, then that’s when God is just asking us to ponder these desires in our hearts. The many times I’ve done this, I sense it’s almost tenderizing my heart.

So dan, wat moet ons, as goddelike Christelike vrouens, vrouens wat “vir die toekoms glimlag,” vrouens wat ‘n “stil en sagmoedige” gees uitstal, veronderstel om met ons regte gevoelens te doen? Een manier is om ‘n beginsel te gebruik waaroor ek in die vorige hoofstuk geskryf het, toe my seun se verloofde gegelo het dat die wonderwerk om te trou van God af kom, maar haar begeertes het nie ooreengestem met die gesag oor haar nie. Wanneer iemand in ons pad staan (of miskien is dit net ons beperkte vermoĂ« om iets te maak gebeur), wanneer dit is wat ons werklik glo God wil hĂȘ ons moet doen of hĂȘ, dan is dit wat God ons net vra om oor hierdie begeertes in ons hart te dink. Die vele kere wat ek dit gedoen het, voel ek aan dat dit amper my hart versag het.

*Difficult to do? Yes, but oh so powerful! That’s because, once these desires are hidden from plain view and not spoken of freely, they are then put in a place where God visits. And He is there, in order to give us our most secret and precious desires! Remember? “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Going beyond this, while looking up this verse, I read the entire Psalm that truly blessed me. Read it yourself, because it confirms so much of what has already been said. Read it slowly:

*Moeilik om te doen? Ja, maar o so kragtig! Dit is omdat, sodra hierdie begeertes uit sig weggesteek is en nie vrylik oor gepraat word nie, word hulle in ‘n plek gesit waar God besoek aflĂȘ. En Hy is daar, sodat Hy vir ons ons mees geheime en kosbare begeertes kan gee! Onthou? “Vind jou vreugde in die Here, en Hy sal jou gee wat jou hart begeer” (Psalms 37:4). Deur verder as dit te gaan, terwyl ek die verse opgesoek het, het ek die hele Psalm gelees wat my werklik geseĂ«n het. Lees dit jouself, omdat dit bevestig so baie as wat alreeds gesĂȘ is. Lees dit stadig:  

 “Do not fret [to be worried, irritated, or agitated about something] because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

Van Dawid. “Moet jou nie ontstel oor skelms en jou kwel oor skurke nie,want soos gras vergaan hulle gou en soos groenigheid verdwyn hulle sommer. Vertrou liewer op die HERE en doen wat goed is, woon en werk rustig voort. Vind jou vreugde in die HERE, en Hy sal jou gee wat jou hart begeer. Laat jou lewe aan die HERE oor en vertrou op Hom; Hy sal sorg. Hy sal jou onskuld laat deurbreek soos die son, jou reg soos die helder lig van die middag.

“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity” (Psalm 37:1–11).

“Daarom moet jy in stilte op die HERE vertrou en jou nie ontstel oor die voorspoedige lewe van 'n skelm nie.Moenie kwaad word nie, laat staan die woede, moet jou nie ontstel nie: dit bring net ellende. Die skelms sal uitgeroei word, maar diĂ© wat hulle vertroue in die HERE stel, sal in besit bly van die land. Nog 'n rukkie en daar sal geen goddelose meer wees nie; 'n mens sal hom soek waar hy was, maar hy sal nie daar wees nie. DiĂ© wat nou verdruk word, sal die land besit en hulle verlustig in hulle welvaart” (Psalms 37:1-11).

Notice how the second paragraph begins with the word, rest. As a parent, I know that my children can’t be expected to act their best when they are overly tired. We women also need rest, rest from our overworked emotions, and that rest can only be accomplished when we give each care (or worry or burden) to Him and when we simply “wait patiently for Him;” “and He will do it.”

As ‘n ouer, weet ek dat daar nie van my kinders verwag word om op hulle beste op te tree wanneer hulle oormoeg is nie. Ons vrouens moet ook rus, rus van ons oorwerkte emosies, en dat rus net volvoer kan word wanneer ons elke sorg (of bekommernis of las) vir Hom gee en wanneer ons eenvoudig “in stilte op die Here vertrou,” “ Hy sal sorg.”  

Feelings to Move
Gevoelens om te Versit

Now, it’s time to discuss how our feelings relate to moving mountains. Just like everything else, resisting (even resisting feelings, like fear) is not the right way to deal with these negative emotions—emotions that have the potential to do so much harm and stand in the way of our miracle. So, what can we do with this powerful, and often deadly (to a miracle) force, when our emotions try to overcome us? What I found, just recently, when a bout of fear kept flowing over me—fear that was trying to penetrate my heart—I chose, instead, to use those feelings, by modifying and actually redirecting fear into thrill and excitement. That’s when I realized that I could actually benefit from them!

Nou is dit tyd om te bespreek hoe ons gevoelens verband hou met berge versit. Net soos alles anders, weerstand (selfs om gevoelens te weerstaan, soos vrees) is nie die regte manier om met hierdie negatiewe gevoelens  af te reken nie—emosies wat die potensiaal het om soveel skade aan te rig en in die pad van ons wonderwerk staan. So wat kan ons doen met hierdie kragtige, en dikwels dodelike (vir ‘n wonderwerk) krag, wanneer on emosies probeer om ons te oorweldig? Wat ek gevind het, net onlangs, toe ‘n aanval van vrees aanhoudend oor my gevloei het—vrees wat probeer het om my hart binne te dring—ek het, eerder gekies, om daardie gevoelens te gebruik, deur hulle te modifiseer en eintlik vrees na opwinding en opgewondenheid te herlei. Dit is toe wat ek besef het dat ek eintlik uit hulle voordeel kon trek!

Have you ever noticed that fear and excitement are opposing emotions, and yet, they are really just a fine line apart? There are some people who love to ride a rollercoaster, for example, because of the thrill of it. Then there are others, like me, who don’t feel a thrill, but, instead, feel nothing but fear. Our emotions, simply a fine line apart, are very similar. What is different is in our perception of what we are experiencing. And a lot of how we perceive something is due to how much we think about it, but more important is in what way we think about it.

Het jy al ooit agter gekom dat vrees en opgewondenheid teenoorgetselde emosies is, en tog, hulle is regtig net ‘n dun lyn van mekaar af? Daar is sommige mense, byvoorbeeld, wat daarvan hou om op ‘n tuimeltrein te ry as gevolg van die opwinding daarvan, maar, voel eerder, niks maar vrees nie. Ons emosies, eenvoudig ‘n fyn lyn van mekaar af, is baie dieselfde. Wat anders is is in ons persepsie van wat ons ervaar. En baie van hoe ons iets waarneem is as gevolg van hoeveel ons daaraan dink, maar meer belangrik is die manier wat ons daaraan dink. 

For instance, I doubt that many of the young people in line at the amusement park are thinking of how well the coaster is built, but I would be; therefore, my perception would result in fear.

By voorbeeld, ek twyfel dat baie van die jong mense in die ry by die pretpark dink aan hoe goed die trein gebou is, maar ek sou wees; daarom, sal my persepsie in vrees verander.

The verses we just read above (Psalm 37) point to the very same thing, which is: how we think about things. For instance, do we think about how much money we don’t have to pay for something or what people are going to think about us when they find out about something we did or didn’t do? The list is endless to what we might fret about, which may even lead us to doing something evil or wrong. And even if we don’t resort to actually doing something wrong, fear alone, as most of us have learned, is actually the opposite of faith, which means we are not pleasing God when we fear. The Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Die verse wat ons nounet in (Psalms 37) gelees het wys na die eniste ding, wat is: hoe ons aan dinge dink. By voorbeeld, dink ons daaraan hoeveel geld ons nie hoef te betaal vir iets of wat mense gaan dink van ons wanneer hulle iets uitvind wat ons gedoen of nie gedoen het nie? Die lys is eindeloos vir wat ons oor mag knies, wat selfs mag lei dat ons iets boos of selfs verkeerd doen nie. En selfs as ons nie terugval om iets boos of verkeerd te doen nie, vrees alleen, soos baie van ons geleer het, is eintlik die teenoorgestelde van geloof, wat beteken dat ons nie wat God wil nie wanneer ons vrees. Die Bybel sĂȘ,  As 'n mens nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om te doen wat God wil” (HebreĂ«rs 11:6). 

Just recently, I faced quite a few mountains that loomed over my life, and each time I found that the fear of what might happen next, or what might be the result of my actions, stood in the way of moving that mountain, due entirely to how I felt. What I found was that if I took a step back, and then refocused on the thrill of what I knew (in faith) was about to happen, I could use those feelings to fuel the spiritual strength needed to move the mountain through the positive force of faith.

Net onlangs, het ek ‘n paar berge gekonfrontreer wat oor my lewe opgedoem het, en elke keer het ek uitgevind dat die vrees van wat volgende mag gebeur, of wat die resultaat van my aksies mag wees, in die pad gestaan het om daardie berg te versit, te danke as gevolg van hoe ek gevoel het. Wat ek gevind het is dat as ek ‘n tree terugneem, en dan herfokus op die opwinding van wat ek (in geloof) geweet het op die punt gestaan het om te gebeur, ek daardie gevoelens kon gebruik om die geestelike krag te stook wat ek nodig gehad het om die berg deur die positiewe krag van geloof te versit.

It is when we choose to turn our eyes from what appears to be happening, and instead look at what He has already done for us ( and others) in the past, that our perception changes. Thinking over in our minds all the other mountains that He moved begins to thrill and excite us. And that’s when we are able to turn our doubt into real strength—mountain moving strength.

Dit is wanneer ons kies om ons oĂ« te draai van wat lyk asof dit gebeur, en eerder te kyk na wat Hy alreeds vir ons gedoen het (en ander) in die verlede, wat ons persepsie verander. En in ons verstand nadink aan al die ander berge wat Hy versit het en begin om ons te ontroer en opgewonde te maak. En dit is wanneer ons in staat is om ons twyfel in regte krag te verander—berg versit krag. 

Now, let’s take the principle a bit higher, by also reminding ourselves, and Him, of the promises that He has made to us—even promises He may have made to you and me years ago. These promises (added to what He’s done) will further increase our faith and move those feelings from fear to excitement, and we will have the thrill of watching another mountain be thrown into the sea!

Nou kom ons neem die beginsel ‘n bietjie hoĂ«r, deur onsself, en Hom ook, te herinner, aan die beloftes wat Hy aan ons gemaak het—selfs beloftes wat Hy aan jou en my jare gelede gemaak het. Hierdie beloftes (bygevoeg tot wat Hy gedoen het) sal ons geloof verder vermeerder en daardie gevoelens van vrees tot opgewondenheid skuif, en ons sal die opgewondenheid hĂȘ om te sien hoe nog ‘n berg in die see gegooi word.

As I said, the Lord saw fit to bring one mountain after another into my life just recently. And each time I told myself that if I truly believed, then I would not be frightened or worried, but I would be excited—therefore, I needed to let my feelings reflect what I believed.

Soos wat ek gesĂȘ het, die Here het dit goed gevind om onlangs een berg na ‘n ander  in my lewe te bring. En elke keer het ek myself vertel dat as ek werklik geglo het, dan sou ek nie bang of bekommerd wees nie, maar ek sou opgewonde wees—daarom, moes ek dat my gevoelens weerkaats wat ek geglo het..

  • That’s when my feelings became my barometer and a way to let me know just how I was thinking about those mountains and whether or not my mountain was going to move or continue to loom.
  • Dit is toe dat my gevoelens my barometer word en ‘n manier om my te laat weet net hoe ek oor hierdie berge gedink het en of my berg sou beweeg of nie of voortgaan om my te verdoem.

Another import aspect is knowing that the absence of fear can move your mountain. Almost all of the testimonies of restored marriages are from women who came to the place where they no longer feared being alone, nor feared their husbands might not come back to them. Once they experienced having a heavenly Husband and His love, once they knew they’d never be alone, that’s when there was no more fear. Once fear was gone, almost instantly they saw their situations turn around, and their husbands’ hearts were turned back to them.

Nog ‘n belangrike aspek is om te weet dat die afwesigheid van vrees jou berg kan versit. Amper al die getuienisse van herstelde huwelike is van vrouens wie op ‘n plek gekom het waar hulle nie meer gevrees het om alleen te wees nie, en nie gevrees het dat hulle mans  nie na hulle toe sou terugkom nie. Toe hulle ervaar het dat hulle ‘n hemelse Man en Sy liefde het, sodra hulle weet dat hulle nooit alleen sal wees  nie, is dit wanneer daar nie meer vrees was nie. Toe vrees weg is, het hulle amper onmiddellik gesien hoe hulle situasie verander, en hulle mans se harte was terug na hulle toe gedraai.

It happened exactly like that both times with me. The first time my husband left, my entire life was consumed with fear. It took almost two years to rid myself of unimaginable fear (of being a single mother alone with small children and often thinking of how it would adversely affect them growing up). It wasn’t until I came to the place where there was no fear at all (all due to knowing and experiencing an amazing intimacy with the Lord), then, once my all-consuming fear was gone, my husband returned almost immediately.

Dit het twee keer met my presies so gebeur. Die eerste keer wat my man weg is, was my hele lewe verteer deur vrees. Dit het amper twee jaar geneem om ontlsae te raak van die ondenkbare vrees (om ‘n enkel moeder alleen met klein kinders te wees en dikwels te dink aan hoe dit hulle nadelig sou affekteer soos wat hulle grootword). Dit was nie tot ek tot op ‘n plek gekom het waar daar glad nie vrees was nie (alles omdat ek ‘n ongelooflike intimitieit met die Here ervaar en geken het), toe, sodra my alles-verterende vrees weg was, het my man amper onmiddellik teruggekom.    

The second time he left and filed for divorce, I didn’t fear at all (this time due to an even greater intimacy with the Lord, which was at an all-time high)—even though I had much more to lose the second time. Instead of fear, I rested in my trust, knowing more fully of His goodness and always looking for the good in what was happening. These dictated my emotions. The result of absolutely no fear, which was replaced by excitement, turned my husband’s heart around almost instantaneously, in equal measure.

Die tweede keer wat hy weg is en ‘n egskeiding aanhanig gemaak het, het ek glad nie gevrees nie hierdie keer as gevolg van ‘n groter intimiteit met die Here, wat op ‘n heeltydse hoogte was)—alhoewel ek baie meer gehad het om te verloor die tweede keer. In plaas van vrees, het ek in my vertroue gerus, en meer ten volle Sy goedheid geken en altyd vir die goeie gekyk in wat besig was om te gebeur. Dit het my emosies voorgesĂȘ. Die resultaat van absoluut geen vrees, wat deur opgewondenheid vervang was, het my man se hart amper onmiddellik in gelyke mate, gekeer.

The question I have is, was the immediate change due to how I felt? Or is it something the other person can sense, like we all read in Erin’s marriage restoration books? Can it be that our negative emotions, like fear, are an unseen energy force that God created and (countless times) has warned us not to allow into our lives, because it is what will inhibit our God-given moving mountain power?

Die vraag wat ek het, was die onmiddelike verandering as gevolg van hoe ek gevoel het? Of is dit iets wat die ander persoon kan aanvoel, soos wat ons almal in Erin se herstel boeke lees? Kan dit wees dat ons negatiewe emosies, soos vrees, ‘n ongesiende energie mag is wat God geskep het en (ontelbare kere) ons gewaarsku het om nie in ons lewens toe te laat nie, omdat dit is wat ons God-gegewe berg beweeg krag sal belemmer?

The song made popular in the eighties says, “Feelings, nothing more than feelings
?” Though we try to dismiss the importance of how we feel, our feelings just might be the deciding factor to whether or not our mountain moves, or whether it appears to grow larger and wider than it was before. What we believe in our hearts will determine how we think and will result in how we feel about that mountain.

Die lied wat in die tagtigs populĂȘr was sĂȘ, “Gevoelens, niks meer as gevoelens
? Alhoewel ons probeer om die belangrikheid van hoe ons voel te ontslaan, mag ons gevoelens net die beslissende faktor wees tot of ons berg beweeg of nie, en  of dit lyk asof dit groter en wyer groei as wat dit vantevore was. Wat ons in ons harte glo sal bepaal hoe ons dink en sal die gevolg hĂȘ van hoe ons voel oor daardie berg.  

For instance, if we believe during surgery that our doctor knows what he is doing and the surgery will go well, it will alleviate our fears, which we now know results in a better outcome and quicker healing. What multiplies the outcome is when Christians put their trust in God, who is in complete and utter control. However, if we instead begin thinking of and rehearsing all the possible complications, the many risks, and what could potentially go wrong, our feelings will be much different—we will be overcome with fear! Fear, the Bible tells us at least three times, is how we open the door to whatever it is that we are fearful of, to be allowed to enter our lives.

By voorbeeld, as ons glo dat gedurende operasies ons dokter weet wat hy doen en die opersie sal goed gaan, sal dit ons vrese verlig, wat ons weet die resultate ‘n beter uitkomste en gouer genesing sal wees. Wat die uitkoms vermeerder is wannner Christene hulle vertroue in God plaas, wie in heeltemal en uiterste beheer is. Nietemin, as ons eerder begin dink en al die moontlike komplikasies repeteer, die baie risikos, en wat potensiaal verkeerd kan gaan, sal ons gevoelens baie anders wees—ons sal oorkom word met vrees! Vrees, is wat die  Bybel ten minste drie keer vir ons vertel, is hoe ons die deur oopmaak tot wat ookal dit is waarvoor ons angstig is, om toegelaat te word om in ons lewe in te kom. 

 “For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me” (Job 3:25).

“Wat ek gevrees het, het oor my gekom; waarvoor ek bang was, het my getref” (Job 3:25).

 “Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me” (Psalm 55:5).

“My hart krimp inmekaar in my, doodsangs oorval my,’ (Psalms 55:5).

 “What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).

“Wat die goddelose vrees, kom hom oor; wat die regverdige begeer, gee God hom” (Spreuke 10:24).

  • So, we see that what we meditate on (fearful thoughts or faithful thoughts) has the ability to be manifested in our lives, and our feelings are the barometer to know what we are actually allowing into our lives and what ultimately lies up ahead for us.
  • So, ons sien dat waarop ons mediteer (vreesvolle gedagtes of getroue gedagtes) het die vermoĂ« om in ons lewens gemanifesteer te word, en ons gevoelens is die barometer om te weet wat ons eintlik in ons lewe toelaat en wat uitermatig vir ons voorlĂȘ.

Lack and Fear
Tekort en Vrees

Fear is what turned the tide of prosperity to lack, in my life. And when I say prosperity, I am not only speaking in regard to finances, but in every area of my life.

Vrees is wat die gety van voorspoed tot gebrek, in my lewe gedraai het. En wanneer ek sĂȘ voorspoed, praat ek nie net van finansies nie, maar in elke area van my lewe.

The lack that came into my life, I can now clearly see, began with a series of events while I was traveling. An event broke into my haven of rest, faith, and tranquility—the peace that surpasses all understanding that I had been enjoying. It began while I was in Africa, on the very tip of the continent, in Cape Town. For the first time since I left home weeks earlier, I was finally able to speak to my daughter, who had gone to live with her dad just before I left. Though I was extremely happy to hear her voice, it made the reality of “losing her” very real.

Die tekort wat in my lewe gekom het, kan ek nou duidelik sien, het begin met ‘n reeks gebeure terwyl ek besig was om te reis. ‘n Voorval het in my hawe van rus, geloof, en rustigheid gebreek—die vrede wat alle verstandhouding te bowe gaan wat ek geniet het. Dit het begin terwyl ek in Afrika was, op die punt van die kontinent, in Kaapstad. Vir die eerste keer sedert ek weke vroeĂ«r die huis verlaat het, was ek finaal in staat om met my dogter te praat, wie by haar pa gaan woon het net voor ek weg is. Alhoewl ek verkriklik bly was om haar stem te hoor, het dit die realiteit om “haar te verloor” baie eg gemaak.

Once we hung up, I headed to my room, anticipating a great night’s sleep, since I was going to be flying back to Johannesburg the next morning. I needed sleep; I was scheduled to speak there when I arrived. However, in the next room, there was a wild party going on, with people or furniture constantly hitting the wall, loud voices and yelling, and worse, cigarette smoke that began filling my room. There was not another available room in the hotel, and even though I called the management, the party continued throughout the night.

Toe ons klaar gepraat het, het ek na my kamer toe gegaan, en ‘n goeie slaap antisipeer, aangesien ek die volgende oggend terug Johannesburg toe sou vlieg. Ek het slaap nodig gehad; ek was geskeduleeer om daar te praat to ek arriveer het. Nietemin, in die kamer langs my was daar ‘n partytjie aan die gang, met mense of meubels wat aanhoudend teen die mure slaan, harde stemme en ‘n geskree, en erger, sigaret rook wat my kamer begin volmaak het. Daar was nie nog ‘n beskikbare kamer in die hotel nie, die partytjie het dwarsdeur die nag aangegaan.

Solomon, who is said to be the wisest man who ever lived, told us to be careful to “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom” (Song of Solomon 2:15). Though I had been through so much, and in comparison this was nothing at all but a bit of lost sleep, it proved to be that little fox that I was unable to catch. It wasn’t this alone; it was also immediately after the reality of my daughter not living with me hit me, and I’d not taken time to speak to my HH or her Father about it. Once the door of fear was wide open, one fear leading the way to another. Fear led to me worrying about my very short flight. More fear led to me missing my scheduled flight, which put me on another flight that took off in a horrendous thunder storm.

Salamo, wat gesĂȘ is die wyste man was wat ooit geleef het, het vir ons gesĂȘ om versigtig te wees om te “Vang vir ons die jakkalse, die klein jakkalsies wat die wingerde verniel, ons wingerde wat al bot” (Hooglied 2:15). Alhoewel ek al deur so baie was, en in vergelyking was dit hoegenaamd niks behalwe ‘n bietjie verlies aan slaap, het dit bewys dat dit daardie klein jakkalsie was wat ek nie in staat was om te vang nie. Dit was nie net dit alleen nie; dit was ook die onmiddelike realiteit  van my dogter wat nie meer by my woon wat my getref het, en ek het nie die tyd geneem om met my HM of haar Vader  daaroor te praat nie. Toe die deur van vrees wyd oop was, het een vrees die pad na die ander gelei. Vrees het my gelei om bekommerd te wees oor my baie kort vlug. Meer vrees het gelei daartoe dat ek my geskeduleerde vlug mis, wat my op ‘n ander vlug geplaas het wat in ‘n aaklige donderstorm opgestyg het.

And by the way, did you know that defeat is what often follows great victories and hits very powerful men and women? Here are a couple of examples. First is Jonah, who saved the entire nation of Nineveh from destruction. Then, right after this huge victory, he says, “Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life” (Jonah 4:3). Most of his despair was due to Jonah’s feelings for the ungodly people, who God chose to spare.

Terloops, het jy geweet dat ‘n nederlaag is wat dikwels groot oorwinnings volg en baie magtige mans en vrouens tref? Hier is ‘n paar voorbeelde. Eerste is Jona, wie die hele nasie van Nineve van vernietiging gered het. Toe, net na die groot oorwinning, het hy gesĂȘ, “ “Laat ek nou maar sterf, HERE, want dit is vir my beter om te sterf as om te lewe.” (Jona 4:3). Meeste van sy wanhoop was te wyte aan sy gevoelens vir die ongoddelike mense, wie God gekies het om te spaar.

Another example is Elijah, one of the most powerful prophets, who also was consumed right after his amazing victory—when 450 Baal prophets had been destroyed. Afterward, “he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers’” (1 Kings 19:4).

Nog ‘n voorbeeld is Elia, een van die mee kragtigste profete, wie ook reg na sy wonderlike oorwinning verteer was—toe 450 Baal profete vernietig was. Daarna, “Hy self het egter 'n dagreis ver die woestyn in gegaan. Daar het hy onder 'n besembos gaan sit en gewens hy gaan dood. Hy het gesĂȘ: “Nou is dit genoeg, HERE! Neem my lewe, want ek is niks beter as my voorvaders nie”’ (1 Konings 19:4).

Though I never quite got to the point of wanting the Lord to take my life, unlike these two men. I, nevertheless, can see how anyone is capable of plummeting into despair, after experiencing a great spiritual victory, all due to negative feelings that were not redirected back toward faith.

Alhoewel ek nooit heeltemal tot op die punt gekom het dat ek wou gehad het dat die Here my lewe moet neem nie, anders as hierdie twee mans. Kan ek, nietemin sien, oe iemand in staat is om in wanhoop te tuimel, nadat ‘n groot geestelike oorwinning ervaar is, alles as gevolg van negatiewe gevoelens wat nie terug na geloof herlei is nie. 

It was not even a week ago that my feelings, due primarily to what you read in the previous chapter, began to escalate in a negative way. I began worrying that I had “blown it,” and therefore, I was not going to see my mountain move, and the feelings of fear started to wage war against my faith. Thankfully, due much to writing this chapter, my feelings proved to be the barometer that told me that if I was going to see the mountain fall in my life, I was going to have to redirect my worrying into positive excitement, with anticipation and expectancy. Yet, the way I was feeling was so low that I hadn’t the emotional strength to turn the tide of my emotions. So, as a bride, I simply discussed everything with my HH and asked Him to do just that—I asked Him to turn my feelings of fear to excitement, and He did!

Dit was nie eens ‘n week gelede dat my gevoelens, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van wat jy in die vorige hoofstuk gelees het, op ‘n negatiewe manier begin toeneem het nie. Ek het begin bekommerd raak dat ek “dit geblaas” het, en daarom, sou ek nie my berg sien versit nie, en die gevoelens van vrees het begin om oorlog teen my geloof te maak. Dankbaar, deur baie geskryf van hierdie hoofstuk, het my gevoelens bewys om die barometer te wees wat my vertel het dat as ek die berg in my lewe sou sien val, ek my bekommernis in positiewe opgewondenheid, met antisipasie en verwagting moes herlei. Tog, die manier hoe ek gevoel het was so laag dat ek nie die emosionele krag gehad het om die gety van my emosies te draai nie. So, as sy bruid, het ek eenvoudig alles met my HM bespreek en Hom gevra om net dit te doen—ek het Hom gevra om my gevoelens van vrees na opgewondenheid te keer, en Hy het!

Prior to my feelings changing, the Lord had opened my eyes to the fact that I was at the end of this leg of my journey and that I mustn’t give up. He told me that many saints gave up, just before they reached their goal, the destination, and that my erratic feelings were proof that things were near the end of my mountain moving. Even though my head knew this was true, my feelings prevented me from turning the negative force into positive feelings, and it’s why I immediately spoke to my HH, before they could become rooted and take hold of me.

Voor my gevoelens verander het, het die Here my oĂ« oopgemaak tot die feit dat ek aan die einde van die been van my reis is en dat ek nie moet opgee nie. Hy het vir my gesĂȘ dat baie heiliges,  net voordat hulle hulle doel bereik het, die bestemming, opgegee het, en dat my wisselvallige gevoelens bewys was dat dinge naby die einde van my berg wat verskuif was. Alhoewel my kop geweet het dat dit waar was, het my gevoelens my weerhou om die negatiewe mag in positiewe gevoelens te verander, en dit is waarom ek onmidellik met my HM gepraat het, voordat hulle kon wortel skiet en my beetkry.

Almost immediately, I got up to shower and face the day with expectancy and anticipation! Did my day run smoothly? Absolutely not; instead, it was a day full of hundreds of tests, trials and temptations, but I continued to use each trial to fuel my faith, knowing that it proved I was just a short distance away from my mountain of debt falling into the sea. Then came the test.

Amper onmiddelik, het ek opgestaan om te stort en die dag met verwagting en antisipasie aan te durf! Het my dag glad veloop? Absoluut nie; eerder, was dit ‘n dag vol honderde toetse, beproewings en versoekings, maar ek het voort gegaan om elke beproewing te gebruik om my geloof te stook, wetend dat dit bewys het dat ek net ‘n kort afstand weg was van my  berg van skuld wat in die see val. Toe kom die toets. 

There were actually three large amounts of money that I needed to sow as my test. My fear and feelings of “lack” wanted me to pull back, but the eyes of faith and trust told me to move forward. The enemy had made sure that, just the day before, I saw that I had nothing left in my accounts and my credit cards were all maxed out. Nevertheless, I had to move forward. While dressing, the Lord asked me how I really believed: Did I truly believe that my accounts, which I saw were empty, were actually attached into Him and His unending source? Or, did I believe what I saw? Did I really believe that He would lead me along this path and not provide the testimony of no debt? I knew that the result of how I felt, and what I did that day, is what would determine whether my mountain of debt would fall.

Daar was eintlik drie groot bedrae geld wat ek moes saai as my toets. My vrees en gevoelens van “tekort” wou gehad het dat ek terugdeins, maar die oĂ« van geloof en vertroue het vir my gesĂȘ om vorentoe te beweeg. Die vyand het, die dag vantevore, seker gemaak, dat ek gesien het dat ek niks in my rekening oorgehad het nie en dat my kredietkaart, die maksimum bereik het. Nietemin, ek moes vorentoe beweeg. Terwyl ek besig was om aan trek, het die Here my gevra hoe ek regtig geglo het: Het ek werklik geglo dat my rekeninge, wat ek gesien het leeg was, eintlik aan Hom en Sy eindelose bron  gekoppel was? Of, het ek geglo wat ek gesien het? Het ek regtig geglo dat Hy my langs hierdie paaidjie sou lei en nie die getuienis van geen skuld sou voorsien nie? Ek het geweet dat die resultaat van hoe ek gevoel het, en wat ek daardie dag gedoen het, is wat sou bepaal of my berg van skuld sou val.

Each test, trial and temptation served to strengthen my faith in all He has done for me and will continue to do for me. Though my overflow of blessings has not yet manifested, I can feel that “it is finished” and that it is only a matter of time when I see, and I can announce, that my mountain of debt has fallen. I don’t know how it will happen, any more than I know when, but nevertheless, it is about to happen—I can feel it.

Elke toets, beproewing en versoeking het gedien om my geloof in alles wat Hy vir my gedoen het en voortgaan om vir my te doen te versterk. Alhoewel my oorloop van seĂ«ninge nog nie gemanifisteer het nie, kan ek voel dat “dit klaar is” en dat dit net ‘n kwessie van tyd is wanneer ek kan sien, en aankondig, dat my berg van skuld geval het. Ek weet nie hoe dit sal gebeur nie, niks meer as wat ek weet wanneer, maar nietemin, dit is op die punt om te gebeur—ek kan dit voel. 

Dear bride, our feelings may just be the most powerful force that can cause you and me to soar like eagles, or cause us to want to bury ourselves below the face of the earth.

Liewe bruid, ons gevoelens mag net die kragtige mag wees wat kan veroorsaak dat ek en jy soos arende sweef, of veroorsaak dat ons onsself onder die gesig van die aarde begrawe.

Knowing their power, we, therefore, need to pay close attention to our spiritual barometer, which shows up in our feelings, and when we feel the barometer falling, speak to our HH and shelter ourselves under the Almighty—not waiting until they take root and grab hold of us. Keeping negative feelings hidden, we must then cover our negative feelings with His promises and ponder deeply what He has done for us (and others) in the past.

Deur hulle krag te ken, moet ons, daarom, nou aandag skenk aan ons spirituele barometer, wat in ons gevoelens wys, en wanneer ons voel hoe die barometer val, en met ons HM praat en onsself onder die Almagtige skuil—en nie wag tot hulle wortel skiet en ons beetkry nie. Om negatiewe gevoelens weggesteek te hou, moet ons dan ons negatiewe gevoelens bedek met Sy beloftes en diep nadink oor wat Hy vir ons (en ander) in die verlede gedoen het.

With our minds renewed, we then must simply speak what is hidden deep in our hearts, which is reflected in our feelings, so that our mountain will move in the right direction—toward the sea, and no longer casting shadows on our world.

Met ons gedagtes hernu, moet ons dan eenvoudig praat wat diep in ons harte weggesteek is, wat in ons gevoelens weerkaats is, sodat ons berg in die regte rigting sal versit—na die see toe, en nie meer skadus in ons wĂȘreld gooi nie.

 

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