2 Samuel 12:21 His (David’s) attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
Emotional wellness as defined by psychologists is “the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times.” Emotional wellness gives us stability over the changing circumstances of life. Emotional health is about how we think, react and feel. It is our coping mechanism to handle various situations and understand our own feelings and the emotions of others. There are various ways of strengthening our emotions but the bottom-line of emotional wellness is our relationship with the Lord. Unless we have a steady and vivid understanding of God’s nature and unless we have clear communication and constant conversations with Him, our emotions will be erratic and will rule our lives.
King David had an agonizing crisis where he fasted and prayed to save his child. After seven days of fasting, praying and pleading the child died. Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate (vs 20). It is distressing for any parent to watch their children suffer and heartbreaking to lose a child but as soon as David heard that his child had died, he got up, washed himself and went to church to worship the Lord. Emotions are the vehicle that we use to express our feelings to the Lord. However, if emotions dictate terms to God and direct our prayers, we are heading towards a serious crash. Being emotionally stable does not mean that we are feeling-less or expressionless. It does not mean that we will not be sad, sorrowful or grief-stricken. It only means that after pouring out our feelings to the Lord, we will submit to His will. If the answer to our prayer is ‘Yes’, we will be joyful and if it is ‘No’, we will still remain grateful. We will not get bitter or resentful with God.
The ‘Emotionally Stable’ says, “God knows what’s best and accepts God’s answer with thanksgiving.”
Emotional Wellbeing:
1. Self-Pity: The greatest enemy to our emotional health is self-pity. Self-pity is a self-centered, sorrowful and self-regretting emotion that attracts attention to oneself. The ‘Emotionally Healthy’ says, “if God takes away anything from my life, it is for my good – let God be God.”
2. Self-Talk: The person who is with you 24/7 is you! We talk more to ourselves than to others. It is important to watch our thoughts and self-talk. Talk yourselves out of the rut.
3. Support-System: Have a support-system of people and good habits to build emotional wellbeing. When we notice signs of emotional degeneration, have clear strategies and support-systems to stop emotional turmoil.
Emotional stability comes from a sound relationship with the Lord.
Psalm 42:11a Why are you cast down, O my soul?
Prayer: My Father and My Friend, teach me to take control of my emotion and not to fall into the pothole of self-pity. Amen.
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