Lately, I have been thinking about how closely all of our emotions can be tied. Picture all our emotions in a large pasture with fences around each category. All it takes is a break in the fence or a place you can go under or over to co-mingle those emotions. I have cried buckets of sad tears---but no more than the happy tears which spill over quite frequently and those angry tears---may be the ones that scorch the most as they trickle down my cheeks. MANY of our emotions are closely connected to other emotions. We are complex emotional creatures.
What started this line of thought was pondering fear. We all have fears--some completely rational and others WAY OUT in left field. Lately I have been anxious. This anxiety is a by-product of a fear I am dealing with. The anxiety is a great deal like a low level of pain---such as a tooth ache---NOT so painful that I cannot think of anything else---BUT it has me on edge---chronically. The thing about being on edge is it does not take much more to push us over the edge into a freefall of despair. As I was considering how to manage this fear---I realized most fear is the result of loss of or inability to control a situation. That is exactly what I am facing. It seems I have done everything I can to alleviate the stressor--all to no avail. My fear is I have NO control over this situation and have totally lost any control I thought I might have had.
NOW--there are many things in life which cause us fear---illness, financial, relational--on and on. The "What If's" can wreck havoc on our emotions. When we float along in life with the pipe dream we have everything under control, we are headed for a fall. Truly--if you think about it---our control is fleeting at best. It is laughable for us to think we are totally in control with all the variables in our lives. BUT GOD (Conjunction Junction)----He realizes this and addresses fear in His Word. He does not want us to live in fear---but instead trust in His provision---even for the worst of times. THIS lesson is one I return to over and over in life. Just about the time I think I have everything under control--the entire bottom falls out of my control plan and I am free falling in the deep chasm of fear. Perhaps this will be a lesson I have to continue to return to until my last breath---it certainly seems I easily forget when stressed. BUT GOD faithfully reminds me--He is not surprised----He is in control----all things can work (even the messes we make) for our good---by God's Hand. Thanking Him for His nudges---when I cannot seem to remember.
"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear"
Psalm 46:1-2
Sometimes things happen in life that brings a lot of buried emotions to the surface. They get mixed up as you said with our current emotions and feelings. We then feel guilty, sad, melanchloly all at same time. Reading my Bible helps me get my mind off the feelings.
ReplyDeleteA sweet reminder of what God intends our lives to look like. I spend a great deal of time in self-reflection--determining where my reactions are truly coming from. We cannot change our past---we can learn from it.
DeleteBlessings!
All so true, Lulu. Just when we think we are in control, something will happen to dismantle our safety nets and make us realize that we are NOT in the driver's seat. I think it may take me the rest of my days to completely accept this fact. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOur biggest obstacle--can be giving it all up to God. And you are correct, I am constantly trying to "take care of things" myself.
DeleteBlessings, Martha!