Emotionalism can cripple people from walking by faith. It can also hinder or even devastate relationships. Those who are run by their emotions are unstable in their ways. They tend to be impulsive and have difficulties finishing what they start. The bottom line is that many of their decisions and the way they interact with others are based upon their feelings. The primary focus here will be the importance of knowing the Father’s heart in relation to our interactions with others.
Uncontrolled emotions can distort reality. They can make bad situations appear worse than they really are. That can also make good things too good to be true. Of course, they can even make up their own reality that has no truth. Emotionalism demands its own way and demands it now. It will not wait for answers, which causes a number of people to find it difficult to wait on the Lord. To them, “patience,” is a four-letter word. If a person has trouble waiting on the Lord, he may also find it hard to correctly address conflict with others. Relationships suffer when the emotions get the best of people.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (KJV). If you are one who is controlled by your emotions, it is important to make a conscious decision to be led of the Holy Spirit. It is time to stop and listen to the Lord and allow Him to show you what is real. You must make a conscious decision to wait before you act and listen before you speak. While your emotions may tell you this is impossible, remember that with God all things are possible. It is vital to know the Father’s heart when dealing with others. It is important to know His will before venturing off on your own. Scripture warns us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12, KJV). For this reason it is important to be disciplined to wait on God for direction and the much needed answers to our questions.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (KJV). Sometimes it is easy to think we have the best solutions to problems, when we really don’t. As human beings, we are not all knowing (omniscient), which means we may be missing vital information in our decision making process. When interacting with other people, we do not know everything that is in their heart. We do not know why they act, respond or react the way they do. It can be dangerous to assume we know these things. However, the Father knows everything, which is why it is vital to be in constant communion with Him. Before making important decisions, ask Him what He desires. Let Him reveal the best course of action, or non-action for that matter. When dealing with others, it is critical to know the Father’s heart before we speak or act. For example, when a family is in a crisis, wait on the Lord before doing anything. Stop, pray, listen and obey Him. There may be times He will lead you to pray over the situation and do nothing more. You will be surprised how well God can handle our crises if we will simply get out of the way. Other times, He may give you specific courses of action or words to say. Please take into account He loves us all, which also means we need to take care in how we interact with others. As a word of caution, do not hide behind prayer to avoid the situation at hand. Meaning, telling others you will pray about it when you do not intend to do anything. We cannot afford to let fear, anger, sloth, or any other emotion to dictate our response or its lack.
By consciously submitting to and obeying the Father, regardless of what we may feel, the emotions will also come to obey Him as well. The more we obey, the more our emotions will surrender to the Holy Spirit, and His peace is able to rule in our heart.
