Right vs. Feels Good
Dear Josephine, Rory, and Wesley,
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said it best: “When they go low, we go high.”
I wish I could say that taking the high road is always going to come naturally, but it doesn't. Sometimes your inner voices will cry out for retribution instead.
I promise you, from experience, that following God’s Light on your path will be worth it… even when the desire to be petty is pretty strong.
Mama (Guest Writer Faith Taylor)
Inside Out Lectionary Letters
Year A Proper 10 - (Texts, Art, Hymns)
Readings for Sunday, July 12, 2026
Genesis 25:19-34 / Psalm 119:105-112 / Romans 8:1-11 / Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Summary of Psalm 119:105-112
Psalm 119 is a long psalm praising God’s Word and its goodness. Verse 105 holds words that may be familiar to many of us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
This portion of the psalm continues on to further praise God for the Word - and how setting the psalmist's heart on God continues, despite the storms of life.
Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul
When you look closely, there are lots of mixed feelings represented in this psalm. Sure, the main idea is still reflecting on the goodness of God’s Word.
However, life is not so straightforward and we hardly ever feel only one way about something.
Overall, the psalmist feels praise for the Word. Yet he also writes of being severely afflicted, needing to learn, and being hunted by the wicked.
I don't know about you, but parts of me feel least like following God's Word when I'm in major conflict with others - especially when I know that I'm in the right.
Just as the psalmist seems to have some wrestling between inclining his heart toward God and letting the stressors of life cause his feet to wander, we often have the same internal struggles between what is right and what feels “good.”
Our family had a very difficult personal and legal situation - one where the judge ultimately ruled in our favor.
When the dust settled, I felt God nudging me to reach out with an olive branch to the other party. We agreed to have dinner together - something several friends said they felt very uncomfortable about. In fact, the friends we were staying with were worried enough they wanted me to check in when possible.
I don't share this to have you pat me on the back. I share this because the parts of me that desired to do what was right were much louder than those that wanted to be extremely petty instead.
This internal struggle is frustratingly and beautifully human. The feelings of hurt and anger are completely valid and deserve acknowledgement and an outlet.
In the end, though, discerning between the cacophony of inner voices comes down to continually inclining our hearts toward God and God’s Word.