My journal entries usually include several topics that I have on my mind.   When I hear from the Lord, it’s usually in response to what I’ve written but often He will address some other issue. In this case he addresses two things.  All that is to say, I’m struggling to come up with a title!!

From the journal .  .  .  . December 1990

Lord, I confess I was selfish last night.  I was feeling sorry for myself.  Lord, can our feelings be sin?

I edited out the middle part of my journal entry as I went into the issue of what was upsetting me. I think all can relate to feeling sorry for ourselves and the particular cause isn’t relevant.

And I Believe God Said:

Yes, if you indulge them.  You get a feeling. Then you think on the feeling.  Then you act on the feeling or thought.  It’s not sin to limp when you have an injured leg or foot.  It’s sin to fake it for the purpose of gaining attention or throwing guilt on someone else.  Wanting sympathy isn’t sin.  Wanting the culprit to feel guilty and bad is revenge. * It’s natural to respond with that feeling.  It’s not sin, but if you indulge it by thinking more and more, you will act on it purposely or unconsciously.  Diane, to want comfort after being hurt is not wrong or selfish, but to demand comfort is another matter.

Roman 12: ¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
Deut. 32:34“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

Lord, I love You.  You are the greatest comfort.  You see my heart and You see my inside tears.  Help me to be real, even with myself.

And God, it occurs to me that when my daughter cries, it’s usually because she’s hurt and wants to feel better.  On the other hand, we can’t always measure depth of hurt by tears because there are times when people use tears in a manipulating way.

Look to Me for discernment in that (if it’s manipulation or not) especially when dealing with children.  We want to discourage manipulation. Listen carefully to what I say to your spirit and pay attention to the words you speak.  An offhand, careless remark can do severe damage.

Matt. 18:6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Matt 12:³⁶ And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. ³⁷ The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”   Prov 18:21 NLT

Ephesians 4:29; Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such 
a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. NASB

This is so true and for children especially.   Children believe their parents. They don’t have the experience to know that parents don’t always communicate accurately or appropriately.  They assume parents mean what they say and that they are right.

When I was growing up I got the impression that crying was manipulative. “She just cries to get her own way.” “Quit your bawlin’ or I’ll give you something to cry about.”  So I built up quite a resistance to crying, and even as an adult I seldom cry when I am personally hurt.  Other things make me cry, especially since Jesus came into my life.  He is the one to heal the hurts and make a difference!