Gospel Shaped Emotions

EMOTIONS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM
We all experience emotions on a daily basis. The emotions we experience are not intrinsically evil or sinful in themselves; however, when these emotions get out of control they tend to lead us to places were never thought we would go. Often our emotions are out of control when they outrun our brain, meaning our mind can’t keep up and process the emotions we are experiencing. The problem is our renegade heart. We have hearts that are sinful to the core. They rebel against God, His grace, His goodness, and His people. You see, the problem we have is not we are “too emotional” or the emotions we experience in the general occurrence of life. The problem is with us. It’s the way we process the world around us as sinners. We have a problem and it will the way we experience the world God has created as sinful creatures.
The problem James is addressing in chapter four of his epistle. James writes these words in chapter four describing what “out of control” emotions tend to lead to. “What cause quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war among you?” James 4:1 James identifies the major cause of conflict within and without is linked to the out of control passions and desires of the human heart. These passions and desires led to out of control emotions which can snowball into a frenzy of hurt feelings, misconstrued words, and damaged relationships that take years to rebuild, even if each party wants to start the reconciliation process. So, we fight and quarrel, fueled by out of control emotions and the resentment from others builds. Think about it, how many words ruin relationships when an out of control emotion like anger leads to rage and harsh words. Take for instance my marriage, sometimes I can’t even remember why I am angry, yet my emotions run loose and unbridled which often led to hurtful words and actions aimed straight at the character and personhood of my beloved. Or what about when our fear of the unknown grips our hearts so tight that we experience a “paralyzes of life.” A point where the rational decision-making process ends up being thwarted by the fear of what is around the next corner.
As said earlier, we all experience emotions on a daily basis. The question is, are we in control of our emotions or are our emotions in control of us? Now, I must make a personal confession regarding my life. Often, I’m not in control of anything, including my emotions! The most natural remedy would be to “try harder” with our emotions. Find a technique that helps. Take a yoga class to help with your anxiety, or practice counting backward from ten to damper your anger before it gets out of control. I think most have been told to “get over” something. Don’t be “so emotional” with our decisions. So we search for some behavior of technique to help us cope when behavior modification is more often a Band-Aid than a remedy.
Now, I’m not saying that we are not responsible for our emotions or our actions. Of course, we can make rational decisions outside of the emotions we are experiencing. However, I am saying that often the emotions we experience are real an often seem more significant than the problem or obstacle we are facing. We don’t need to stop being emotional…we need something, or someone more meaningful than our emotions.
Jesus makes an incredible statement to his present and future followers in the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 28:18 Christ leaves his followers with these words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Everything we do as believers are rooted in the resurrected Lord’s bold statement concerning the reality of His presence. Everything in heaven and earth is under his rule and authority. Every experience the disciples will face passes through the unchanging hand of THE risen Lord, even the emotions they will experience on a daily basis. What does this mean for us? It says that the church has an anchor for their out of control emotions, and His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, The Alpha and Omega, Everlasting Father, The Ancient of Days, The Son of God, The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!