What are your emotions costing you?

By Cinda Adams Gaskin

Emotions. We all have them. They show up as one of the very first signs of life when we’re born. We cry. Then, as babies we teeter between tears and grins for months. Soon, we discover feelings of love—the love of our parents and grandparents. And eventually, we learn to laugh, to pout, to scream in anger, and to throw tantrums. Inevitably, we learn feelings of fear, insecurity, envy, pride, depression, and even—dare I say—hatred.

A recent Gallup poll asked American adults whether certain qualities applied more to men or to women. Ninety percent of respondents said that the characteristic "emotional" applied more to women. While the survey didn't ask about particular emotions, the results indicate that most Americans believe that women experience broader and more intense emotions than men.

As Christian women, how can we effectively manage our emotions so that we reflect Christ-likeness in good times and in bad? Even when the trials of life come crashing down around us, is it possible to still be Christ’s ambassadors in our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities, and in the church? As full-time witnesses for Him, how can we attract others to Christ if we don’t first gain control over our emotions?

When our emotions are out of sync with the Holy Spirit

Remember, it was Moses’ emotions that prevented him from entering into the Promised Land in Numbers 20. He grew frustrated with the children of Israel’s complaints about life in the desert, and he struck the rock God promised provide water from rather than speaking to it. That outburst cost him the task of bringing God’s people into the Promised Land.

“So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them"               Numbers 20:9-12

Remember, it was David’s emotions that caused him to murder Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. David had impregnated Bathsheba and wanted to hide his shameful, adulterous behavior by calling Uriah home for a respite with his wife. When Uriah refused to spend time with Bathsheba while his men were out fighting a war, David sent him to the front lines and instructed the army to fall back—allowing Uriah to die. David’s uncheck emotions cost him one of his best soldiers and the life of the newborn child he had with Bathsheba.

When our emotions are submitted to the Lord

Esther submitted her emotions to the Lord when faced with the fear of being killed for approaching the king on behalf of her people uninvited. She called the whole nation to a fast, gained the favor of God to meet with the king, foiled the plan of the enemy, Haman, and saved her nation from annihilation.

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16

Ruth was woman who lost her father-in-law, her brother-in-law, and her husband. And, yet, she overcame her devastating grief by moving away from her hometown in Moab to Bethlehem, Judah, the land of her mother-in-law’s people—the children of Israel. There she met Boaz, who became her husband and put her in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

What are your emotions costing you?

Like Moses, will leaving your emotions unchecked keep you from taking hold of what God has promised you? Or, like Esther, will submitting your emotions to the Lord gain you an audience with someone of great influence? Will allowing your emotions to run amuck cost you great loss and shame, like David? Or, like Ruth, will submitting your emotions to the Lord put you in line for a rich, world-changing blessing?