When we go through tests and trials, there is often a roller coaster of emotions. But as believers, we don’t have to let our emotions run the show! How can we learn to live by something other than our feelings and emotions?
Also:
Doing all the “right things” (as much as is humanly possible) doesn’t guarantee that our children will grow up to serve and love God. After all, God is a perfect parent, and look at what some of His children do. There are four forces at work in our children’s lives. What are they?
Today’s Readings:
Job 29 & 30
Psalm 97.7-12
Proverbs 23.15-16
I Corinthians 1.1-31
7 Ways to Avoid a Roller Coaster of Emotions
Job 29 & 30:
Don’t Let Emotions Run the Show!
Our friend Job is on quite a roller coaster of emotions. If you have read the book of Job, you know that he suffered incredible losses. He lost his children, his livelihood, and his health. And it seemed like even his friends thought it was somehow his fault. (If you’re not familiar with the story, you can read my commentaries on the earlier chapters beginning here.)
But back to that roller coaster. In yesterday’s reading, Job had some of the most incredible revelations from God, and in today’s reading, he thinks God has totally abandoned him.
Isn’t that a picture of the roller coaster of emotions we can all experience when we are going through a test or trial? The important thing to remember is that even though the feelings are there, they’re real, and they’re often strong, we don’t have to be controlled by our emotions. By that I mean, we don’t have to let them determine the way we act and respond!
In spite of all his roller-coaster feelings, Job stayed faithful to God. And remember what his own wife said at the beginning, “Why don’t you just curse God and die!” (my paraphrase). But Job didn’t waver from his faith in God, even though he didn’t understand why God was allowing all his calamity.
So how can we avoid letting emotions run the show in our own lives?
7 Ways to Avoid a Roller Coaster of Emotions:
- Spend time in God’s Word. It reminds us of the bigger picture and builds us up spiritually (Rom. 10.17, 15.4).
- Pray. Talk to the One who moves mountains and walks with us through our valleys (Heb. 4.16).
- Remember. He knows our limits and will not allow anything in our lives that we can’t handle as long as we rely on His grace (1 Cor. 10.13).
- Focus on His promises. He will provide for all our needs (Matt. 6.25-34). He will give us the grace we need (Heb. 4.16). We can rest in His protection (Ps. 23, Ps. 91). And so many more. Find one that speaks to you.
- Know. Whatever He has commanded us to do, He’ll give us what we need to do (Phil. 4.13).
- Rely. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you (Rom. 8.11).
- Determine. Make a decision to live by the principles of God and not your feelings.
Choosing in Spite of Our Feelings
God made us as emotional beings. We can’t turn our emotions off and on like a faucet or will them to change by trying hard enough. But what we can do is stop letting them control our thoughts by choosing to meditate on God’s Word instead of the thoughts that are running through our heads. We can pray and let others know we are trusting God and would appreciate their prayers. We can decide to live by the principles of God, in spite of our feelings. The amazing thing is that when we do, our emotions will often get in line.
Some time ago, I wrote a whole series on handling emotions biblically. If you are struggling with fear, worry, or anger, you might want to check out some of those posts. I’ll add the links at the bottom.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 97.7-12:
His Holy Name
Psalm 97 ends with these words, “… give thanks at the remembrance of His Holy Name.”
In ancient times, a person’s name didn’t just refer to what his parents called him. It was who he was. It was his character, the representation of his person. So when the Bible talks about God’s name, it’s referring to the character and the very person of God. If you want to get a greater understanding of God, it’s good to study His various names: Lord, Master, Savior, King of Kings, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, Jehovah, and the list goes on. There are also the compound names of God: Jehovah-Jirah, Jehovah-Shalom, etc.
Many in our generation don’t really know who God is. They may see Him as some generic god, some higher power, some supernatural being, but they have no real concept of the God of the Bible. Some even think Allah, Buddha, the Great Spirit, etc., are all just different interpretations of the same god. But the truth is: there is only one God and He is the God of the Bible. All the others are “nothing” at best and demonic at worst.
Proverbs 23.15-16:
3 Forces at Work in Our Children
My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
These two verses express the joy Solomon experienced when his son was wise. But notice it follows the verses we talked about yesterday and the day before:
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell (vv. 12-14).
Be sure to read yesterday’s comments about how discipline is to be loving and measured. But, we must train and instruct our children in wise, godly living if we hope to see them grow in those areas.
We, also, need to remember that doing all the “right things” (as much as is humanly possible) as a parent doesn’t guarantee that our children will grow up to serve and love God. After all, God is a perfect parent, and look at what some of His children do.
There are always four forces at work in our children’s lives: our instruction, the Holy Spirit, their own wills, and the pull of the world around them. We’re only responsible for one of those things and, even then, we won’t do it perfectly. Our job is to be faithful and leave the results with God.
1 Corinthians 1.1-31:
Christ Crucified … the Power of God
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God … but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (vv. 18, 23-24).
Foolishness … that’s what some think about the gospel! They think the Bible is full of silly superstitions which science has proven to be wrong. Many schools and universities are busy educating every bit of faith out of our children. And many, even in the church, struggle to believe things like the creation account, the flood, and the virgin birth. If that’s you, I hope you’ll read my post from a couple of days ago, “Why Believing Every Word of the Bible Is So Important” to see why believing all of God’s Word is so important.
Science & Philosophy
Nothing has really changed since the first century although we think it has. We are so puffed up with our science, our inventions, and our enlightenment; but the intellectual Greeks had much the same attitude. Acts 17 describes Paul’s interaction with a group of Greek philosophers in Athens:
Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection … And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked … (Acts 17.18, 32).
The legalistic Jews were no better. Like many today they thought they were right with God because of all their religious activity.
The gospel—to the intellectual—is foolishness! And to the one who thinks he can get to God through his religion, his good deeds, his attendance at church or mass, his prayers, his humility, his piousness, etc.—it is a stumbling block! But to those who believe—it is the power of God for salvation!
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about habits that rob us of God’s blessings, honoring imperfect parents, the danger in not judging sin, and ask the question, “If you died tonight, do you know for sure where you would spend eternity?”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Here are the links to the “Handling Emotions Biblically Series.”
Handling Emotions Biblically: Introduction
Depression Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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