I Know This Too Shall Pass

“You are way too emotional, get a grip, pull yourself together,” I am sure most of us have heard that once or twice in our life time.  We label others as “drama queens” when those individuals express themselves.  This leads us to think expressing our emotions is a terrible thing and needs to be suppressed or controlled.  Rest easy my friend your emotions did not just drop out of thin air, God gave them to you – present in each of us at varying degrees. They emerge to help us navigate the circumstances that life brings.

There are three major emotions love, fear and anger.  Love will show up as trust, contentment, security and self confidence. Fear is the tree that bears the fruit of insecurity, shame or anxiety; while anger is seen through frustration, hatefulness and hostility. 

Unhealthy emotions will keep me living and thinking in past tense. That type of focus pushes me into reactionary mode – and forces me respond out of familiarity instead of from a practical or sensible place. Healthy emotions help me focus on the here and now.  They confirm that we are facing this global pandemic, but what can I do to change it? How much energy do I want to invest in it? My emotions cannot have more influence over me than my ability to exercise sound judgment. My life will not be a series of “putting out fires” that is way too exhausting.

During this time of uncertainty I make daily decisions on how to respond to each situation I am facing. God, through His Word have been encouraging me to keep my eyes fixed, stayed and focused on Him. You remember that time in the Bible (Matthew 14:25-31) when Peter stepped out the boat and started walking on water to Jesus? You recalled Peter took his eyes off Jesus and redirected his gaze at the storm. He immediately started sinking, but Jesus Who is our ever present help, reached down and caught him before he sank. My focus can easily shift from Jesus to the fact that my household income just decreased significantly, my 401(k) is looking more like 40none(k) – or any other number of challenges right now. However, that would only force me into making fear based decisions.

Fear does not get to make the decision on how I navigate my next move. I am choosing to refocus my gaze on the One who said, “Fear not for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10) and Philippians 4:6-7 the Apostle Paul reminds us “…be anxious for nothing”.

I have journaled my thoughts on and off over the past twenty years or so and have often recommended some of my clients do the same. What I find with journaling is as I write my thoughts down on paper, the process clears my head. The thoughts that constantly intrude on my emotional health come flowing out on the pages – that helps me refocus my attention on what is important.  Refocusing is like riding a bike, if we keep looking at our feet we eventually fall – so we look up and keep our eyes fixed on our destination.

" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

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