by Pastor Temilolu Oluwasijuwomi

The Chapter is loaded with a lot of Christocentric themes, but I thought to throw more light on managing our emotions.

AFTER THESE THINGS

From the following verse, it is obvious that the king didn’t mean to send the queen parking, but what’s been done has been done and could not be reversed.

Est. 2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

From the first verse we learn that emotional responses could sometimes come with far reaching consequences than we can remedy.

“Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.” — Psalm 37:8 GNB

Est. 2:1 after these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

The wrath of king – Emotion phase

He remembered Vashti – Realization phase

What she had done – Evaluation phase

What was decreed against her – Point of no return phase

MANAGING OUR EMOTIONS

Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes. Proverbs 14:29

Be emotional yes, but refrain from making critical decisions from an emotional standpoint. Decisions such as marriage, place of work, place to live, friendships, divorce etc. If it’s a critical decision, wait! Think it through, because some decisions have irreversible consequences.

After these things… just like the king, your eyes will clear. Let that time be when one takes that decision, not when you will be picking up the pieces of what is left of one’s outburst if there is any left.

Words are powerful, you don’t have to say certain things or take certain decisions at certain times. Yes, you may be hurt and rightly so, but hold on a bit. Let the Holy Spirit have His way and not your emotions. Especially when you are merry or when you are angry or when you are sad. Or generally when emotions have the best of you.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20

Decisions are better made from the head. They are better made with a well thought out plan and possibly a system that will get that decision on a kind of auto pilot. As the head of an organization. I have often found out that decisions made at the spur of the moment are most like the worst form of decisions one can make. The idea may drop in your mind at that time when you are emotionally smitten, but that is not the time to say it out or act on it. Think it through, work out a plan, then you can execute. This way, you save yourself a lot of heart ache as well as the people you love.

Eve made an emotional decision that plunged the world into misery. She saw and ate. Cain made an emotional decision that truncated his destiny. He was jealous and angry and so killed Abel. Sarah out of anguish of delayed child birth decided to let her husband lie with her maid which resulted in the world’s most vicious religious terrorists today. Jephthah made a foolish vow from emotion in Judges 11:29-40 that took the life on His daughter. Emotional decisions rarely ended well in scriptures.

David was saved by Abigail from making a terrible emotional driven mistake to revenge in 1 Sam 25. But thanks be to God that rather than Jesus make an emotional decision that the cup pass him over at the garden of gethsemane he said yet not as I will, but as you will. The Blessings that followed are unspeakable.

Luke 22: 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”

Today, God knows we may be provoked or pained or hurt but let His will be done, not your emotional will. Trust the Lord to help you manage your emotions as well as enjoy the blessings that follow.

Be blessed.