I Peter 5:8-9a (Taylor's Living Paraphrase)

 

Our emotions are wonderful to have--what would life be like without them? Pretty blah, right? A roller coaster ride wouldn't be nearly as much fun if we weren't screaming at the top of our lungs on the scary nosedive plunges! It's amazing how high we can jump when a garter snake slithers out from under a bush! Oh, yes, we need that adrenalin rush that emotional upheavals bring on when unexpected action is required. Our emotions play an "exciting" role in our little personal productions here on earth. They are actually intended to "enhance" our every day existence. God knew what He was doing when He created those undulating things for us. But your emotions can unravel your day in one split second!

So my emotions very successfully "unraveled" my fairly nice day about 4:30 this afternoon. Oh, it wasn't a horrible accident or anything like that: it was a "heart" problem--and I don't mean that little organ that beats inside my chest. I mean something very close to me--something that I hold very dear--was chopped down to the ground. No. Chopping would be a slow process. This was more like a chain saw working--fast, ruthless, no prisoners. I really didn't have time to "practice what I teach"--it was okay one minute and the next my little world had a huge bomb explode sending shards everywhere.

            What do you do when this happens? Well, we have options. (1) Go in the bathroom, close the door and cry'hard. Wait. (2) Go to your room and collapse on the bed feeling like you've just been hit by a truck. Wait. (3) Retaliate and cause bigger problems. Wait. (4) Stuff it and feed your ulcer. Wait. (5) Tell yourself the truths that we've learned together and make yourself listen! He is with me. He loves me. He can handle this (I sure can't!) He is with me. He loves me. He can handle this--one hand tied behind His back. Wait.(6) Get busy. Whistle while you work or sing while you suffer. (I whistle. My singing leaves a lot to be desired.) Wait. (7) Do something nice for someone. All the while fixing your thoughts on those things that are true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely. Dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.^[1] Not just one time--over and over and over, etc. Wait. (8) Ask Him to tell you what to do. Ask Him to give you His thoughts on how to handle this unexpected crisis--and listen. Wait. (9) Thank Him for taking care of this crucial episode that burst into your life quite unexpectedly--having one goal--to incapacitate you or destroy you! Wait. (10) Go back to #5 and do it all over again.

I am presuming that you caught the word, "wait?" Spewing out those impulsive, angry, defensive, hurtful words on the tip of your tongue--no! Regurgitating rash, condemning statements to anyone around you--no! God tells us, "Be angry--but sin not. Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still" which means wait (Psalm 4:4).

            Will your emotions zoom down to a peaceful one or two? No. They may go ninety miles an hour going up, but you'd think they were in a school zone coming down! It isn't an easy battle. You must persevere--which means to keep on doing what you're doing--trusting that He will have the victory. You can be quite sure that Satan will start from the beginning of the drama and go all the way through when the lights are turned off--if you let him. Instead of that, go back to #7 and sing one of your favorite church songs in between quoting the scripture.

Yes, thank you for asking. I'm doing much better after reminding "us" what to do. That's the way it's supposed to work. 

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