Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Our Fluctuating Emotions



Knowing that we are created in the image of God, and knowing that He himself displays a wide range of emotions in Scripture, it would be silly for us to think that our emotions are inherently evil and ought to be suppressed at all costs. However, because of the Fall, our emotions will subject us to a myriad of temptations that often lead us right into the paths of sin. And those temptations come as quickly as the tossing tide...

When we allow [our feelings] to be tied to our circumstances--which are constantly changing--rather than to the unchangeable realities of God and His Truth, our emotions are prone to fluctuate wildly... It doesn't take much to put our emotions on an upswing--a clear, sunny day, a raise at work, a compliment from a friend, the successful completion of a big project, or losing five pounds. Meanwhile, emotional lows can be the result of a variety of factors including (but not limited to) a series of cloudy days, a tough day at the office, a disappointing phone call, the realization that our clothes have gotten too tight, the time of the month, a sleepless night, or a pizza we ate too late the night before... When you add in "big things" like the birth of a fourth child in five years, a major move, the loss of a job, the death of a mate or child, caring for a parent with Alzheimer's, going through the change of life, or being diagnosed with cancer, those emotions can really go haywire. (DeMoss, 195)

Therefore, knowing how quickly our circumstances change and how often our emotions can fluctuate, we ought to take a moment to brace ourselves from the lie that "If I feel something, it must be true." Instead, we can cling to the Truths of Scripture that we are loved, we are blessed, we have been forgiven, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, the Lord has purposed every circumstance of our lives for our good, we will be perfected in Christ on the final day, etc.

DeMoss, Nancy Leigh; Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free (Chicago: Moody, 2001)

No comments:

Post a Comment