Emotional Maturity

Today’s reading is about emotional stability and maturity. It made me think more about the results of our Sabbath rest this week. For a long time I’ve felt tense, concerned with a lack of routine and so many days that were not ‘normal’ in that something new confronted me, not always negative but making me tense just the same.

Then we rested. We escaped the usual, spent time with God, each other, and doing some ordinary things that settled our thoughts. The past two days I’ve felt calmer than usual, and all that tension is gone. I attribute this to God's grace and am thankful, but today reminded how emotional maturity is about walking in the Spirit not the flesh. Considering this:

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:19–24)

Which of the fleshy works involve emotions? Certainly immoral activity, but all sorts of impurity, idolatry, etc. and more commonly, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, rivalry, dissensions, divisions, and envy. While most of these vary in degree, they still affect emotions. Last week, I noticed the tension in my body while watching an Agatha Christie movie. I cannot define the emotion but something adverse to rest was happening and this kind of entertainment should not produce tension or negative emotions.

This week is different. No tension. I have company coming today and was tense about that for weeks, but it vanished yesterday. This alone is a God-thing.

Today’s reading makes me think about what emotions are involved by walking in the Spirit. Certainly joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control, all positive.

Emotional maturity does not come with trying harder or with shutting down feelings. I’ve known those who ‘control’ their anger and lose their ability to feel positive emotions. It is only through the power of God's Spirit that emotions are as they should be. The NT even says: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27) This indicates anger might not be sinful (Jesus became angry). The key is to deal with it properly, as God would.

As for the other negatives, confessing them as self-centered sin is important. I’d been annoyed by the behavior of others. Confessing that as unloving disobedience made a huge difference to the tensions that were bothering me. While it seems obvious to recognize what gets blamed for negativity, a proper analysis is important. Too many times people say, “You make me so mad” putting the onus unfairly on the other person instead of taking responsibility for our own reactions.

PRAY: Jesus, when I admit my old nature has usurped Your Spirit and opened the door to all sorts of ‘stinkin’ thinkin’, You forgive and cleanse me, but You are also become free to produce Your fruit in me. You want the Spirit in control, not my negativity and sin. And that is the reason that You saved me, as Jesus said. . . .  

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:16–17)

The reward is far more than the ability to be a conduit for Your positive emotions because walking in the Spirit means You will also answer my prayers and enable me to love others as I ought!