The entire world is going through unknown challenges right now. How are you handling this sudden change in your daily routine? Many of us are facing difficulties we never thought we would face.  This creates emotions that sometimes cause us to react in a raw and unfiltered manner. Your job might have you covering multiple positions, which means you are covering areas you are unfamiliar with. You might have lost your job, and now you are feeling the stress of financial issues. You may have been sent home, and now the challenge is finding purpose throughout the day. You may be dealing with anxiety, fear, and sadness because you are not able to be around the people you care about and isolation sets in. This world pandemic is unchartered territory, unchartered emotions, and we are all trying to navigate these new waters.

So, how are you dealing with these internal emotions that are stirring so deep with you? In addition, now you are dealing with people that might have their own set of emotions stirring within them. Their reactions impact your reactions. This is a reality, and it will be dealt with everywhere we go. Even our own family can cause our emotions to stir, simply because we are not used to handling this type of stress level.  You may feel anxious due to their high level of anxiety, frustration, or even anger…or you might feel depleted because of their repeated negativity. Either way, your spirit reacts and your defenses are heightened.

It is at these times when we become challenged in our reactions. If we are not careful, we can react without thought. This may mean lashing back with improper words or actions. In many cases, if we have spoken irrationally or act improperly, we immediately feel regret. As flesh on this earth, we will inevitably face these fleshly emotions. We cannot possibly be perfect…there is no such thing. Even Jesus had emotions, becoming frustrated and angry.

The key to facing these life situations is learning how to control our reactions. We can train ourselves to withhold our immediate actions, words, or thoughts. This is done through spiritual strengthening, through prayer and surrender. This will build our trust in God. Each day we have the opportunity to pray. We can surrender our thoughts, actions, and reactions, on a daily basis. By asking God to help you, God will reveal His power in you, by giving you self-control. Ask Jesus to help guide your spirit throughout the day. As you grow in your spiritual walk, your spirit will be filled with the compassion of Jesus, and you will begin handling these challenging situations, with love and gentleness. Remember, God is with us. He has given us this promise.

God is with us. 

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:7-11

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

GALATIANS 5:22-2