My Emotions Versus Being Still

There are days when my emotions get the best of me like anyone else. My emotions scream inside causing a myriad of physical responses that join in the chorus. All of which can hijack general common sense and any sort of hospitable response. Am I proud of it? Not one bit! Stress can mess up your mind any day of the week if you let it. Add in lack of sleep, and two or three family crises, and the response can be Katy bar the door. But God calls us to be still before Him on those days. So how in the world can you rope those unruly emotions into submission to be still before God?

Outside Stimuli

There is no shortage of outside stimuli. Outside stimuli could look like a marriage breaking down, the traffic, a car accident, a major life change, changing jobs, disagreement with a friend, financial concerns, health issues, lack of sleep, being a victim of a crime, or anything else triggering a PTSD response. Outside stimuli can also be identified as stressors. One of these situations is enough to evoke an emotional response in most of us. Just sit in traffic for a couple of hours when you need to be on time somewhere and I am sure you can relate. Group any number of stressors together and being still or calm might go out the window. Outside stimuli are real and not always something we deal with singularly. Extending grace towards a person in crisis mode is a positive outside stimulus that can offset a lot.

Inside Stimuli

Inside stimuli can be something as simple as being hungry, thirsty, sick, bored, sad, happy, or even fearful. Blood pressure changes and dropping or rising blood sugar levels are also internal stimuli that can exacerbate situations. Add in a player with internal cognitive issues and it gets even more complex. Inside stimuli are the unseen factors creating emotional upheaval instead of a calm inner stillness. Thank God that ALL inner stimuli are not negative! A positive source of inside stimuli can be hope, faith, and love. Believing in the sovereignty of God along with His goodness and mercy can stabilize internal upheaval. Trusting God’s faithfulness and judgment can restore inner peace and calm.

Learning To Be Still Despite Life’s Upheavals

It is a spiritual discipline to admit our stress level and make time to be still before the Lord. On any given day we all deal with a variety of stressors that can make our responses less than ideal. When our emotions are allowed to run louder than the Word of God in our lives, a begrudged heart can develop. Hardened hearts can be identified by resentment, self-justification, grudge-holding, unforgiveness, and rash behavior, all of which are NOT pretty to see. Learning to TAKE time, even a short 5-10 minute break to lay it down, pray, and remembering key scriptures begins reestablishing your emotional footing. Surrendering situations out of our control (and truthfully, what is in our control?) to our heavenly Father frees us. It is amazing what a few moments in prayer, meditating on Scripture, and praising God can do in the worst of situations.

REcap

Recapping this is just condensing the message down. We truly do not have control over anything in this world. The world is a madhouse at times causing our emotions to crowd out our inner peace. Acknowledge the stressors in your life, both external and internal. Take the problems to God in prayer. Read His Word in the Bible. Give thanks and praise Him for His intervention on your behalf and all others involved. He sees everyone’s intentions and is just and compassionate. Reconfigure your heart with grace and mercy for no one is without fault. We all are doing the best that we can. Some do a little better than others depending on their stressors at the moment. Extend grace. Do not become embittered but surrender to the One who is really in control. In stillness before God, you will find peace and emotional healing. Sister, take a few minutes today to surrender ALL to the Lord. I promise you, you won’t regret it!