Get your emotions under God's control

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." Psalm 42:5-6

 

Washing dishes, I thought, "I shouldn't be losing my patience like this. Why do I let my emotions take control of me?"

 

If a 5 year old loses control of their emotions, we would deal with it accordingly. We wouldn't tell them they're being immature and need to "grow up". But if a 15 year old or a 25 year old or a 35 year old were to lose control of their emotions and throw a fit, we would tell them they're being immature and should "grow up!". 

 

 

As a christian, I should expect spiritual growth and maturity in the area of my emotions. If I'm always losing my temper, grumbling, anxious, fearful, unhappy, being selfish, etc., I need to ask myself who's in control: me or my emotions? Truer yet, am I submitting to the indwelling Spirit of God, abiding in Him and allowing Him to shape, prune and grow me? Or am I submitting to my emotions and allowing what has happened and how I feel to drive, steer and influence me?

 

The Psalmist asks himself a question: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" His feelings are discouraging him, if not torturing and depressing him. His answer? As strange as it sounds, he begins to talk to himself! He stops listening to his feelings and begins speaking truth to his soul, truth concerning God: "Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."  

 

God is in the midst of and over all the circumstances that surround him. He looks to God – to His faithfulness and to His power. He remembers that his hope is in God, that his salvation is God. He reflects on this and then he reminds himself of this. He stops focusing on his feelings and begins to refocus his attention on God. 

 

Imagine you go for a walk down your favorite path and get lost in the sights, sounds and smells of your surroundings. And then suddenly a thought enters your mind, rapidly it affects your heart and you get lost wandering inside whatever your thoughts and feelings are saying to you.

 

What should you do?

 

Stop listening to yourself and begin talking to yourself!

 

This isn't positive thinking, ritual chanting or magically believing things into existence. This is taking hold of what is already true. And what is already true is God, God who is sovereignly present and sovereignly powerful; God who is dwelling within you by the power of the Holy Spirit; God who is lovingly and wisely conforming you into the image of His Son, Jesus.

 

He is your help, He is your refuge, He is your hope in the midst of emotional chaos and in the face of emotional trial. You can be still, find rest and even fall asleep there (Psalm 3:5-6).

 

Get your emotions under God's control.