trbccoffeebreak

 ^“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 (ESV)

Ever had one of those perfect weekends? You know where the sun was shining, and the temps were warmer than expected.  Easter weekend was that picture-perfect moment. The forecast was for cooler temps and cloudy skies, yet God orchestrated the most beautiful day for us all to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.  So when I glanced at the forecast for Monday I assumed it was once again wrong and we would start our work week the same as Sunday. Wow was I ever wrong. Monday was rainy, dreary and extremely cold. Couldn’t believe it but some areas actually saw snow – yes snow that stuck to the ground.  Looks like we’re in for a week filled with fluctuating temps – what happened to Spring?

From highs to lows, cold to warm, happy to sad; uncertainty reigns in the midst of the unexpected. Nothing like being on an emotional rollercoaster. We’ve all probably been there when situations caught us unaware and the spill over spun us from high to low. Keeping it real here, we’ve probably also been caught in the aftermath of someone else’s peace that quickly twisted into a raging hurricane. Not exactly a fun place to land.

Releasing the urge to allow emotions to spin us like a raging storm on a wave-tossed ocean requires great self-control. Our quick resolve to react can leave us reeling in a tide of fluctuating highs and lows. So what’s a  girl to do when unsteady, unpredictable and uncontrollable sends her emotions fluctuating in all directions?

There’s only one thing we can do – lean into the control of the Holy Spirit. Rest in His reassuring presence and desire to steady us even when life tosses us around. Pause. Pray. Reflect. Surrender. Pause so the ebb and flow of what we are feeling doesn’t dictate our words or actions (Luke 12:12). Pray so we can gain insight and strength (Acts 1:8). Reflect on the solid truths of God’s word which steadies our feet even if the ground is shaking (John 14:26). Surrender our emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit so His fruit is evidenced in us (Galatians 5:22-23). And the glorious benefit of Pause, Pray, Reflect and Surrender is the overflowing, abundant hope found in the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Sweet friends, we simply can’t do life the way God intends by relying on our strength and resilience. Life happens and we will default to emotional ups and downs  – God already knows where we will land. He created us to be emotional beings, living and feeling.  Yet, God wants us to process, handle and express those emotions in a healthy and loving way. Exactly why He sent us the Holy Spirit to settle us, ground us and empower us to overcome our tendency to ride the fluctuating tide of our emotions.

“Father, You have given us everything we need to live in this world – help us to resist the tendency to attempt doing life relying on self.  Teach us to surrender to Your Spirit and reflect You to our world.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life