Emotions Don’t Have to Control You

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control." – 2 Timothy 1:7

Your emotions are real. Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, these feelings exist, and you have probably experienced all of them at some point. But just because you feel something does not mean it has to control you. The enemy wants to disturb your mind, trouble your heart, and agitate your emotions. If he can keep you overwhelmed by what you feel, he can keep you from standing in faith.

There is a story about a young man flying on an airplane when suddenly the plane hit violent turbulence. People gripped their seats, fear on their faces, as the plane shook and dropped. But this young man sat there, unbothered. When the turbulence finally settled, an adult sitting next to him asked, "Son, how did you remain so calm?" The young man smiled and said, "That’s easy. My daddy’s the pilot."

That is the power of perspective. When you know who is in control, the turbulence of life does not have to shake you. When you believe that God sees what you do not see and knows what you do not know, you can face whatever comes with confidence. His ways are not your ways, and his thoughts are not your thoughts. But his ways are always good, and his thoughts are always higher.

Emotions will come and go. Some days you will feel strong, and other days you may feel completely overwhelmed. But God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you power, love, and self-control. That means you do not have to be ruled by what you feel in the moment. You can stand on what you know to be true.

Your Father is in control. He is not panicked, he is not shaken, and he is not caught off guard. He sees where you are, and he is leading the way. The turbulence may shake the plane, but it does not shake the pilot. When you believe that, you can rest, even in the storm.