When you’re under stress, you’re more likely to say and do things that upset relationships. The Coronavirus is stressing us all. While social distancing will help our physical health, social distancing does not distance us from our raw emotions. In fact, having strange ways of living suddenly imposed upon us makes us more susceptible to lashing out against others. Since the pressure within us needs a way out, we’re tempted to let it out in unholy ways. An introspective Christian prays:
Keep me from saying words / That later need recalling;
Guard me lest idle speech / May from my lips be falling;
But when within my place / I must and ought to speak,
Then to my words give grace / Lest I offend the weak.
I’ve heard more than a few people say that our emotions are neutral. No. Since original sin has totally corrupted our being, you can be sure your emotions will tilt toward sin (Psalm 51:5, Romans 7:14). That’s also true of us who confess our sins, believe in Jesus, and are bound for heaven, but we Christians have a way to sanctify our raw emotions. When day-in and day-out the Word of God gets down into our being, the Spirit gives us godly emotions. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 122-23).
Lord, let me win my foes / With kindly words and actions,
And let me find good friends / For counsel and correction,
Help me, as You have taught, / To love both great and small
And by Your Spirit’s might / To live in peace with all.
Grant me the strength to do / With ready heart and willing
Whatever you command, / My calling here fulfilling;
That I do what I should / While trusting You to bless
The outcome for my good, / For you must give success. (Cf.
(Lutheran Service Book, 696, 3, 4, 2).
Comments