The following is a post my daughter, Rebekah Bettis, wrote for her blog. I liked it so much I asked her if I could post it on my blog. Read it closely. Is enjoy the right word? – Chap
Every woman knows that uncontrollable flood of hormonal emotions. Everyone in the house scrambles to get out of your way as you let loose. One moment you’re slamming cupboard doors in frustration, and the next you are curled on the couch sobbing about all your failures. No one understands you and everything and everyone is ruining your life!
I understand, it’s rough being a lady. But its also very difficult for everyone else living with you. Growing up in a family of three females and three males, I get the dynamics. Trust me, I write this from experience.
The uncontrollable-hormone-induced emotions strikes all of us females. Some react very strongly, others not quite as extreme. Some women take medication, other don’t. Its obviously a physical problem, so we can’t control it, right?
Wrong.
As a Christian, I’ve read Galatians 5:22-23 numerous times. The fruit of the Spirit it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But of course this only applies to everything BUT my hormonal reactions that are strictly physical and have nothing to do with the things of God.
Ah-HA. Not so fast.
Reading through the Bible, I have found an unmistakable connection between the mind, body, and soul. God created us as humans with all three of these things, and since the Fall, they all have become corrupt. Although the gospel redeems us and fills us with the power of the Holy Spirit, we still have a constant fight with our sinful nature and the effects of the Fall on our bodies. I don’t think anyone can deny the female hormone overload is a product of the Fall, because let me tell you, there is no way that my emotional outbursts fit in with God’s original plan for creation.
What’s the big deal? Galatians 5:16-17 makes it clear that we are at war within ourselves between the sinful nature and the Spirit. “So I [Paul] say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”
Ladies, we are waging war. When those emotions overwhelm, there is always a choice. Will I gratify the cravings of my flesh right now and let my rage and self-pity flow? Or will I take a deep breath, ask the Holy Spirit for his help, and fight my emotions by speaking the truths of scripture to myself? Will I let what I feel control what I think? Or will I use what I know to change how I feel?
So next time you feel the flood of emotions coming, close the cupboard door quietly, sit on the couch with your Bible in your hand, and ask the Holy Spirit to battle those fleshly emotions with you.
Such remarkable truth and wisdom from a Godly young lady. Thank you.