I was just talking with a fellow Warrior about how accepting something on an intellectual level doesn’t mean that the emotional component subsides. In fact, the two sit side by side each other as if two strangers on a sub-way with not enough space on the seat. It’s almost as if, however, that we think that the intellectual realization of something should make the emotional aspect more bearable. It doesn’t. In fact, sometimes, the intellectual realization of something makes the emotional aspect more intense. You see, before we realized something on an intellectual level, we may have been oblivious, and almost a little more protected (in our ignorance) regarding the degree of the emotional pain or discomfort that something was causing us.
Wow, that was a mouthful – or a heart-full. This concept hit me about a year ago, and I was excited about it. I felt a little more powerful, a little more-free, less confined when I realized that the intellectual knowledge of something doesn’t mean that I exist in an emotional free reality. Until I realized that the two concepts are almost like oil and water, I walked around confused and exhausted trying to shake the two together, thinking that “Since I now knew something, I should feel better about it.”
I mean, “Now that I have the intellectual answer to something, I should feel a sense of resolution about this issue.” I have to say that learning the “reason,” i.e. the intellectual answer to something, does help a little; it at least sheds some light on the topic and lessens the confusion of why I feel or act a certain way, but it sure doesn’t mean that “Now that I officially know why I’m upset doesn’t mean I’m automatically not upset anymore.”
I just wanted to share this because you may be walking around wondering why, now that you know the reason to something, why in the world are you still upset by it? Gaining knowledge doesn’t mean we gain super-human powers to feel less emotional. In fact, maybe we become more emotional once we understand the issues. They goal then, at this point, is to go to God with it and say, “Okay, God, I now know that the reason I have been so upset is because _______________. Will You now help me manage my emotions surrounding this new-found knowledge. And can you give me a new sense of insight and healing surrounding this new-found knowledge? I can’t merge the two concepts. Will You merge, create, and fold together the two concepts within me and make me anew?”
The cool thing about God is He can do it! For example, I remember being extremely crushed over some medical news. I was so distraught that I told God, “Okay, my heart is shattered in a million pieces over this. I don’t even see how even, You, God, can put my heart back together. After all, some of the pieces of my heart are dust – not even pieces anymore.” To this God responded, “I will give you a new heart, one that is more equipped to handle what I am asking you to handle.” I almost chuckled. “Of course, You will give me a new heart. You are God. You aren’t bound by my old heart’s limits, by my mentality, or by my despair. You are God! You can give me a brand new upgraded, stronger, more steadfast, faith-filled model of a heart because you are God.”
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.”
I kind of felt like chuckling at that moment because I realized that God is God; He can take the oil of intellectuality and lovingly shake and mix it with the water of my emotional tears and cleanse my soul with insight, equip me to endure, and encourage me with His wisdom.
All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.
And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her website, https://kristinaseymour.com/. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.
Originally published Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
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