When Emotions Get in the Way

Emotional Doubt is the most painful of the three types of doubt; and probably the hardest to deal with. Emotional doubt usually arises from some form of deep personal loss or pain suffered. The pain thresholds of believers vary; and what may be seen as nothing but the actualities of life in one person may actually crush another beyond comfort.

This is when doubt sets in. They begin to have uncertainties about God’s love for them, may become sceptical of preaching, or even become irritable around brethren.

A classic example of this is seen in sisters Martha and Mary on the occasion of the death of their brother, Lazarus, (John 11).

These consummate friends of Jesus quickly became melancholic and moody around the very Lord Himself because they felt He didn’t come through for them at a very critical juncture in the life of their brother.

The problem of emotional doubt is a problem of perspective. The Bible never asks us to supress our human impulses by pretending not to feel loss. Ecc 3:4 tells us that there is a time to weep and mourn; and Paul enjoins us to “weep with them that weep,” (Rom 12:15). Indeed, even our Lord wept with Mary and Martha at the death of their brother and his friend, (Jn 11:35).

Nevertheless, pain can make us myopic, focussing only on the short-term loss and making us lose sight of eternal perspectives. Unlike Factual doubt which arises objectively from the head, Emotional doubt arises from the heart and is usually subjective. Thus the solution to emotional doubt is a conscious change of perspective. As a Nigerian adage goes, “even in our crying, we do not allow our tears to obscure our vision.” The Psalms is filled with instances where the psalmists address their emotions directly to keep them in check. (Ps 37:7-8; 42:5-6,11; 45:4-8; 16-17; 56:3-4; 94:19, etc.). The last thing we want is for the Evil one to take advantage of our loss and sow seeds that will cause us more damage in the future – emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

Accept the comfort of the Lord today. Say to yourself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disturbed within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” – Ps 42:11.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN