for when we need to talk our emotions off a ledge

Maybe I’m sensitive — OK, not “maybe” – but it seems like I’m in a continual state of talking my emotions down off a ledge.

Take motherhood, for example.

I wake up and spend time with Jesus. I feel all full of truth and ready for the day. Then my sweet, little people get up and start bickering or hitting or whining and I’m there. Before I know what happened, I’m on that proverbial ledge. Talking my emotions back down.

“Remember, they’re kids. Don’t let them control you. No need to lose your cool. Lord, help me reflect You. I don’t know how to teach them grace when I want to show them law.” And the preaching continues in my mind — this declaring of truth mixed with pleas of help to my God –until my emotions calm and I’m able to respond more…pleasantly. Because pleasant is good.

 

 

I hear a lot about emotions these days in the Christian circle. On one hand I hear that emotions are a gift created and given by God and that we shouldn’t suppress or deny them. On the other hand I hear that emotions are evil and should be ignored. So what’s an emotional girl to do? I keep coming back to what I believe Scripture teaches.

Emotions were created by God, of course. However, they’re fallen like the rest of our being. Which is why I can so easily have a selfish, emotional overreaction to life. Can I get a witness? Being that they’re fallen, life can get messier when we let our emotions lead us in our decisions because they’re short-sighted and often self-focused.

And yes, I agree that suppressing emotions can be detrimental to our soul-health. Think “volcano” ready to erupt. But more often than not, extreme emotions need to go through the filter of truth before we express them to others. More often than not it’s best to first shout, holler, write, get them out with God before laying them on people. Otherwise, we may see new shades of ugly.

That doesn’t mean we never express our emotions to people. We need people. I need people. Sometimes, when the emotions are especially raw and confusing, I absolutely need to share them with a trusted friend so they can speak truth into my soul. We need others to pray for and with us. God didn’t leave us on this earth to fend for ourselves. He gave us His Spirit and He gave us one another. I’m so thankful for those gifts.

Emotions can be complex and convincing. But I like to think of them more as an indicator rather than a compass. They indicate how life is affecting me at any particular moment. But following where they’re leading may send me off a cliff.

So I’ll keep talking mine down off the ledge — unashamedly expressing them honestly to God, “I can’t do this, Lord!” and sometimes calling a friend for added perspective and intercession. But for the sake of my household and all that’s holy, I don’t want to blindly follow them. Or else people may get hurt.

 
Fill me, Lord…

How do you see and/or deal with “emotions”?