Outweighing Negative Emotions

by Allen Reynolds

For a long time, I have been interested in the study of personalities, and an individual’s affinity toward certain personality traits over others. This was mainly brought about by an elective course on Criminal Psychology I took in high school. From then on, my deep interest led me to the study of a much wider range of topics in that space. Yet, I keep coming back to one particular trait, as it affects so many: neuroticism.

It has been determined by a bevy of psychologists and criminologists that if a person tends to lean toward this trait over others, he or she is more likely to experience negative emotions. It is not unique to any one generation, and certainly does not mean that if you experience it, your life can no longer be considered “normal.” With that said, neurotic people may be plagued by persistent worrying and ruminating over past mistakes, leading to a cycle of negative feelings that boil over into anger, bitterness, and distrust if one loses their self-control.

On this point James 1: 20 says, “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” And how could it, since a person’s peers will see and internalize their lack of self-control every time they respond poorly to common stressors? Have you ever anxiously fixated on what others might think of your outfit at Sunday service? What about obsessively worrying that you must have said something untoward to a brother/sister in Christ since they haven’t gotten back to you in a few days? What about that time you took the last helping of lasagna from the pan at Potluck, and felt obliged to apologize profusely to anyone who would listen? Those are all real-world examples of neurotic behavior that could hamper our and our peers’ faith. Perhaps we overreact because we are frustrated at not having all the answers at this stage in life or we believe that being “set apart” means being kept at an arm’s length from challenges faced by worldly people. Whatever the reason, it does not excuse our lack of composure. Thankfully though, there is a Biblical way to outweigh these negative reactions.

Peter, when writing his first letter to Christian exiles of the Dispersion – who were themselves overwhelmed by threats of force and the revocation of their rights and citizenship – said, not to be surprised by the fiery trials to come, “as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4: 12 & 13). We must keep in mind that positive emotions like joy and gladness do not exclusively belong to those with a greater affinity for optimism.

They can be our go-to response regardless of personality or circumstance, because God’s love and care remain fixed upon all who are in Christ. It is He who is the source of our positivity, so keep in memory Moses’ words to Joshua, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31: 8). So, be glad!