EMOTIONS
By Lynn Wellumson
The National WMF Board met with the young ladies who are attending AFLBS for a night of encouragement and sharing. The girls were allowed to make coffee cozies and had ice cream and other goodies as well as a devotional time. Below is a copy of the devotional that Lynn shared with the AFLBS Women’s Dorm in mid-September. Each Bible reference was printed and placed in helium balloon which various volunteers proceeded to pop somehow and then shared the message on the paper in their balloon.
Good evening ladies. It’s good to meet you at AFLBS and to know you have chosen to spend time at this point in your lives to prepare for life rather than just preparing to make a living. You have recognized how important it is to be grounded in the truth and that truth is available through the Bible which is God’s Word.
Some of you are here for your second year and are thinking about where you go from here. Some of you are here for your first year, perhaps away from your family for the first time for an extended period. It is likely that many of you are facing stress at this transitional time in your lives. Perhaps many of you are finding your emotions running wild.
Emotions are a gift from God. God has emotions. Because we are created in His image, emotions are part of the way God created us. As with any gift, we need to be thankful for this one, but also need to know what place this gift is to have in our lives. Are emotions meant to be our guide? Are they meant to reveal what is true and what is not to us? If we let them have these places, they will become a burden rather than a blessing. As we deal with our own emotions, God provides guidance and truth for us in His Word. This helps us put our emotions in perspective and know what place to give them. Let’s see what God might say to help us when we experience various emotions:
Worried? Matthew 6:31–34 (NASB95)
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Discouraged? James 5:7–11 (NASB95)
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
Frustrated? Hebrews 12:7–11 (NASB95)
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Tired? Isaiah 40:27–31 (NASB95)
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Fearful? Psalm 91:14–16 (NASB95)
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
Doubting? Jeremiah 29:11–13 (NASB95)
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Lonely? Matthew 11:28–30 (NASB95)
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Hopeless? 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (NASB95)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Depressed? Psalm 34:18–22 (NASB95)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Perplexed? Isaiah 55:8–9 (NASB95)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.