Bring the Emotions in Line
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
I have a feeling. But, then again, don't we all?
Bring the Emotions in Line
by J. Randal Matheny
"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has
been good to you" (Psalm 116.6, NIV).
Emotional states waver, dip, and dive more than
the world's worst roller coaster. The book of
Psalms records many of God's faithful saints
coming to terms with their experiences and keeping
their trust in his goodness and faithfulness.
The great testimony of Scripture is that the
faithful keep on obeying, trusting, working, and
confessing the holy Name in spite of their outer
trials or inner turmoils. They demonstrate
perseverance in their works as they bring all
their emotions into line.
Psychologists tell us that all emotions are
equally legitimate and none are to be censured or
repressed. They have a point. But emotions are the
dog's tail and can never be trusted to reflect
accurately our bearings. The dog must wag the tail
and never let the tail wag the dog.
Some emotions can diminish, deform, and ultimately
destroy. Most, if not all, have their time and
place, but left to themselves will derail a life.
What I feel does not always reflect what I know.
In the dissonance, I must go with what I know.
Often, the knowing and going will turn the feeling
to its proper heading.
The content of what I know begins and ends with
the nature and character of God. Constant review
of that knowledge will put the soul at rest and
the emotions in line.
"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has
been good to you."
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