Feelings in Place?

When parents ask their children to do the chores, the children often refuse
because they don't feel like it. As adults, we sometimes take the same
position. We cannot bring ourselves to begin a task because we really do not
feel like it. We fall into a trap. We think good feelings must precede our
work. We think a lack of good feelings is an excuse for avoiding work. But
what is the result? As the work piles up, depression overtakes us.

Here is the problem. We have things backwards. Listen to what Jesus says.
If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). The
word "blessed" may be translated "happy." Jesus is talking about the very
human emotion of happiness. The context of this human emotion is service.
Jesus has just finished washing the disciple's feet. He explains that joy
and happiness will come in doing similar tasks of service. Do you get the
point? Good feelings are not required before our work. In actuality, they
follow our good deeds.

So don't be fooled. If you are blue because of the work before you, get busy
Joy is found in doing your work, not in avoiding it. Avoiding work will
only lead you into depression. "If you know these things, you are happy if
you do them!"

~~unknown