“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.“ Luke 6:45 (NIV)
What spurts out of you when you’re under pressure? I saw this question in a social media post and immediately felt God’s conviction. Just two days ago, I stood in the kitchen yelling at my husband over something insignificant. Within minutes, I began crying, then hugged him and asked for forgiveness. Afterward, I told him I wasn’t even sure why I got so upset. It was ridiculous. Without warning, my conflicting feelings burst out of me like a volcano.
Unfortunately, anger is my first response to any tension, discomfort, frustration, or loss. I might feel devastated and overcome with sadness, yet my first reaction is anger. Over the years, I’ve asked myself why, and I’ve concluded that I react involuntarily to the past judgment and rejection I felt in my younger years.
Yet I no longer need to defend myself. I know I am loved unconditionally by both God and my husband. Therefore, my recent outburst over something insignificant likely came from somewhere else, like a heart full of worldly poison. I am pretty sure God saw my meltdown coming long before it happened, because He knew the state of my heart.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained that a person’s words and actions reveal what is in their heart:
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks“ (Luke 6:45, NIV).
I wonder if what leaks out of us when we’re under pressure is all the worldly stuff we have allowed to penetrate our hearts and minds. What are we consuming that is tainting our hearts? Living in the world allows us plenty of opportunities to view and listen to:
- TV & movies, full of violence and sex
- News, full of hatred and evil
- Social media, full of boasting and comparison
- Politics, full of deception and angry viewpoints
- Music, full of sexual sin and poor language
Therefore, if we want to stop a meltdown before it happens, perhaps instead of starting our day by scrolling and listening to the news and radio, we could spend even just a few of those minutes tending to our hearts.
When King Solomon imparted wisdom to his son, he warned, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). We guard our hearts when we spend time:
- Praying
- Reading God’s Word
- Reading a devotional
- Journaling
- Meditating on a Bible verse or passage
- Listening to worship music
Friend, don’t think of this list as adding more to your already full plate. Instead, see it as replacing habits that quietly drain and harm your heart with ones that breathe life into it and lift it.
Filling your soul with good things doesn’t have to take much time. Just fifteen minutes spent drawing near to God can refresh your spirit, steady your steps, improve your mood, and set the tone for a delightful day. You may even find your feet dancing to a happy tune.
As you draw near to God, He can write His Word on your heart. Then, you will have good treasure to hold onto when life turns up the heat, and you feel as if you’re in a pressure cooker. Most importantly, you are more likely to exhibit grace, love, patience, and kindness than to have a meltdown.
Father, help me fill my heart with your good treasure. When life presses in and emotions rise, remind me to pause and turn to you first. Teach me to begin my day in prayer, to open your Word, to worship, and to rest in your presence. Replace the world’s poison with your peace, and let your Spirit guard my heart and stop a meltdown before it happens. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
More on Managing Emotions
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