I was on social media recently when a post popped up from a friend struggling with a recent rejection. I read her heartfelt post and was alarmed by how she described this experience. 

To paraphrase her words, every time she gets close to making it out of the pit of her life, someone’s words or actions propel her back down into the darkness. She even stated that perhaps she was meant to live in the darkness. 

My Life

I recognized my younger self in her words. I had often let my seesawing emotions, shaped by what others thought of me, control my life. I swung back and forth like a pendulum on a clock. On good days, I would be optimistic about the progress I was making, or I would bask in the approval of others. On bad days, I would be back in the pit of depression or anxiety, doubting myself, my plans, and my worth. It’s a hard way to live, wildly swinging from one emotional side to the other.

As I began growing in my faith, I saw this unhealthy pattern for what it was and began to make changes. It took time and persistence. With decades of growth and healing behind me, here is what I have learned:

Insights for Emotions that Seesaw

1. Do not give any person or people the power to keep you in a dark pit of despair. It’s true that people will disappoint us and hurt us. We can’t control what they say or do. But we CAN control our emotions over it. Acknowledge the pain and work through it. BUT … don’t give them the power that makes you wallow in it.  

That is your choice.

If there is something to be learned from the situation, learn it. Move on with hope and expectation. (See #5 for more on this.)

2. Remember, you are not made to exist in a pit or darkness. God made you to live in His light! I Thessalonians 5:5 says, “You are sons *(and daughters) of light and sons (and daughters) of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.”

Read His word. Pray. Seek out others for fellowship. The enemy wants us stuck in the pit. Jesus came to break the power of darkness so we can live in God’s light. If He is Your Savior, you are a child of Light.

3. Take a prayerful, honest assessment of yourself. List your strengths and list the things you want to change. Live out of your strong points and ask God to show you what you need to work on. Focus on one thing at a time. Record your progress. Remember, God transforms you into the image of Jeusu over your entire Life. It is not a quick one-and-done. Small, consistent steps will get you there. If you backslide, don’t beat yourself up. Just start again. 

4. Choose to think and say truths as God leads. Memorize the scripture verses that resonate with you. 2 Timothy 1:7 “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a strong mind,” resonated with me, and I memorized that as a young woman.

5. Take these scriptures and make them the foundation of affirmations that you speak over yourself — even if they’re not true yet. For example, for the scripture based on 2 Timothy, you could say aloud, “I am not a fearful person. God’s power is at work in me. My mind is strong, and I am a kind, loving person.” Say this several times a day as it becomes truth in your life. 

* The material in parentheses is my addition and is not in the Bible.

Get Off the Emotional Seesaw

As you work through the above steps, your emotions will start to stabilize. When you have a true picture of who and whose you are in Jesus, what other people say and do will lose its ability to cause lasting emotional distress.

I’d love to hear any ways you deal with your emotions. Just leave a comment below.

God bless you!