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Emotional Stability Part 2
In the last article we went over the three primary negative emotions and how discretion played an integral role in self-restraining your anger. I also discussed the fear of the Lord, which is vital to distinguish from our standard definition of fear. This article will be focusing on the three primary and positive emotions of Joy, Surprise, and Love. These sort of emotions are certainly conveyed, expressed, and discussed within the Bible and together we will explore what God's word says about each of these.
The emotion of joy, like all the other primary emotions we've discussed, has many facets. One can be slightly amused or extremely jubilated or perhaps somewhere in between. The Bible surely encourages us to enjoy life to the fullest, and make the best of every day we have here on Earth. It also tells us that righteous individuals would find joy in seeing justice executed. (See V*1, V*2, and V*3). Furthermore the Bible encourages us to be joyful even in the midst of persecution and difficulty, for He tells us that our reward is great in heaven. (See V*4 and V*5). I know it is easier to be said than done to be joyful in all these circumstances, and God surely understands us if we don't pull it off 100% of the time. We simply need to remember the clarity of His word when we become doubtful or weary, and pray at that moment for Him to help us to get back on the right track. In the Bible we are told not to grow weary in doing right, for in due time we will reap the harvest. (See V*6). We need to remember also that God is just. Even though there are many times life will seem unfair to us, I am certain that God makes up for life's setbacks and then some. (See Article #6 Life is not fair, but God loves justice-Not online yet).
Next on our list of emotions is surprise. This emotion certainly deserves to be discussed. Many of us truly enjoy surprises, others are neutral about them, and some of us simply do not appreciate them. According to www.dictionary.com's Thesaurus feature other words that are synonyms of surprise include: astonishment, amazement, astoundment, awe, wonder, revelation, prodigy, and unforeseen. The list goes on and on, but I wanted to make it clear what could be meant by surprise. As far as whether or not we should be surprised, I think the word is certainly a surprise in many respects. If we consider how God uses us, even though he does not need us. What an honor that is, and indeed what a surprise that is. God's miracles, His creation, His eternal plan, His revelations to us, and of course his sacrifice can all be described as wondrous and astonishing. (See V*7). Many times I find myself in awe of simply reading God's word and actually understanding it with His divine inspiration. I know many times I pray for God to bless me with His wisdom, especially in sharing His word with others. It is so critical that I convey things in the way He wants me to convey them, not the way I would like to say them myself. My prayer is that God will lead us all to feel surprise [marvel] of Him and His word in a reverent and fearful way. (See Emotional Stability Part 1).
Last to be discussed in this article, and certainly not least, is the emotion of love. Love is certainly more than an emotion alone. It can refer to sex, passion, or depending on context several other degrees of feelings or attitudes. Thankfully, God has blessed us with an amazingly intricate and beautifully articulated definition for true love and how vital it is that we encompass and embrace it in our personal character. It is found in the book of I Corinthians. (See V*8). Now that we've clearly defined what true love is and established its importance, we need to always remember that we are all instructed to love God first and foremost of all in our lives and to also love our neighbors as ourselves. (See V*9). We are supposed to even love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us. (See V*10). I believe if we make this a fundamental part of our lifestyles and proceed to act on it every day, we would make the world a much better place. Furthermore we would be obeying God's plan and submitting to His will, which has its own set of rewards. (See The Attitude and Attribute Assessment).
The greatest love of all is undoubtedly God's love, which I truly believe we cannot even begin to fathom. God sent his one and only Son Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our Sins because He loves us so much He wanted to give us a wonderful opportunity. The opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and not perish, but have eternal life. (See V*11).
Thank you again, as always, for reading my article and more importantly studying the verses that are incorporated in it. I hope you all found it as interesting and enlightening as I felt when I worked on it.
May God bless you all with emotional stability in your lives!
Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1 - "I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (HCSB)
V*2 - "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart." Psalm 32:11 (HCSB)
V*3 - "Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity." Proverbs 21:15 (HCSB)
V*4- "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12 (HCSB)
V*5- "When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the religious women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. 51 But shaking the dust off their feet against them, they proceeded to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Acts 14:48-52 (HCSB)
V*6- "So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 (HCSB)
V*7- "How great are His miracles, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation. Daniel 4:3 (HCSB)
V*8- 'If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; 5 does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; 6 finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. I Corinthians 13:1-8 (HCSB)
V*9- "He said to him, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 23:37-40 (HCSB)
V*10- "You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For he causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:43-45 (HCSB)
V*11- "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His Ony and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (HCSB)