Today we are walking in: STOP LETTING EVERYTHING SHAKE YOU PART 5
Ya’aqov (James) 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
SLOW
Today we look to the word—SLOW—G1021—bradys—slow; slow in understanding or believing; deliberate, unhurried, not hasty in action or response.
The Torah Testifies……….
Shemoth (Exodus) 34:6
And YAHUAH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YAHUAH, YAHUAH El, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Shemoth (Exodus) 34:6
And YAHUAH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YAHUAH, YAHUAH El, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
The Prophets Proclaim………
Yo’el (Joel) 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto YAHUAH ELOHAYKA: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Yonah (Jonah) 4:2
And he prayed unto YAHUAH, and said, I pray thee, O YAHUAH, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshiysh: for I knew that thou art a gracious El, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
Yo’el (Joel) 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto YAHUAH ELOHAYKA: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Yonah (Jonah) 4:2
And he prayed unto YAHUAH, and said, I pray thee, O YAHUAH, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshiysh: for I knew that thou art a gracious El, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
The Writings Witness………
Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Mishlei (Proverbs) 16:32
Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Mishlei (Proverbs) 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his ruach than he that taketh a city.
Now, let me ask you a question that may reveal why so many people keep losing their peace.
Do your emotions control you, or do you control your emotions?
That is an important question because many people assume that maturity is about feeling the right emotions. But maturity is not about always having the right feelings. Maturity is about responding wisely regardless of what you feel.
The truth is that emotions are powerful. They can inspire us, motivate us, warn us, protect us, and help us connect with others. Emotions are gifts from Elohiym. But emotions were never designed to become our leaders. They were designed to become our indicators.
They can tell us something is happening, but they should not always tell us what to do.
The problem is that many people allow emotions to become the decision-makers of their lives. If they feel angry, they react. If they feel offended, they retaliate. If they feel discouraged, they quit. If they feel afraid, they stop moving forward. If they feel anxious, they assume something terrible is about to happen.
As a result, their lives become controlled by emotional fluctuations. One day they are motivated, and the next day they are discouraged. One day they are confident, and the next day they are doubtful. One day they are focused, and the next day they are distracted.
Why?
Because they are following feelings instead of principles.
And that is a dangerous way to live.
Imagine a ship in the middle of the ocean. If the captain allowed every wave to determine the direction of the ship, the vessel would never reach its destination. The waves are real, but the captain must follow the compass.
In the same way, your emotions are real, but your emotions cannot become your compass.
Elohiym’s truth must become your compass.
Your values must become your compass.
Your purpose must become your compass.
Otherwise, you will spend your life drifting wherever your feelings take you.
One of the greatest marks of emotional maturity is learning how to pause before reacting.
Think about how many problems would disappear if people simply paused. A pause before speaking. A pause before responding. A pause before sending the message. A pause before making the decision. A pause before reacting emotionally.
That pause gives wisdom an opportunity to speak before emotions make the decision.
This is why Ya’aqov (James) chapter 1, verse 19, contains such powerful instruction:
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Notice the order.
Quick to listen.
Slow to speak.
Slow to become angry.
That is emotional discipline.
Unfortunately, many people reverse the order. They are quick to speak, quick to react, quick to become angry, and slow to listen.
Then they wonder why their peace disappears.
Emotional discipline teaches you that not every feeling deserves immediate expression. Not every frustration deserves a response. Not every offense deserves retaliation. Not every impulse deserves action.
Sometimes wisdom says, “Wait. Think. Pray. Reflect. Then respond.”
That simple habit can change your life.
Think about a common situation. Someone says something that offends you. Immediately, emotions rise. Anger begins building. The temptation is to respond instantly, to defend yourself, to prove your point, to say something that will make them feel what you feel.
But emotional discipline steps in and says, “Pause. Think. Pray. Then respond.”
That pause often prevents regret because most people regret reactions far more than restraint.
Very few people look back and say, “I wish I had reacted more emotionally.”
But countless people wish they had paused. Wish they had listened. Wish they had waited. Wish they had chosen wisdom over impulse.
The strongest people are not those who never feel emotions.
The strongest people are those who refuse to be ruled by them.
They understand that feelings change.
Truth does not.
Emotions fluctuate.
Your purpose remains.
Circumstances shift.
Elohiym remains faithful.
That perspective creates stability, and stability creates peace.
This is especially important when it comes to fear.
Fear is one of the most powerful emotions people experience. Fear can feel convincing. Fear can feel urgent. Fear can feel logical.
Yet fear often tells stories that are not true.
Fear exaggerates problems. Fear predicts disasters. Fear imagines outcomes that never happen.
If you blindly follow fear, you will spend your life avoiding opportunities, delaying growth, and surrendering peace.
That is why emotional discipline matters.
It allows you to acknowledge fear without obeying it.
It allows you to recognize anxiety without surrendering to it.
It allows you to feel uncertainty while still walking by faith.
Think about the people you admire most—the leaders, the entrepreneurs, the parents, the believers, the difference-makers. Do you think they never felt fear? Never felt discouragement? Never felt frustration?
Of course they did.
The difference is that they learned how to act according to principles rather than emotions. They learned how to remain focused when emotions were pulling them in other directions.
That is what emotional discipline does.
It protects your peace.
It protects your purpose.
It protects your future.
And perhaps someone listening today needs to hear this:
You do not have to react to everything you feel.
You do not have to follow every emotion. You do not have to obey every impulse.
You can pause.
You can think.
You can pray.
You can choose wisdom.
You can choose self-control.
You can choose peace.
Because self-control is not weakness.
It is strength under control.
It is one of the clearest signs of maturity.
And the beautiful thing is that every time you practice it, you become stronger. Every time you choose wisdom over reaction, you become stronger. Every time you choose peace over impulse, you become stronger. Every time you choose Elohiym’s perspective over emotional chaos, you become stronger.
Little by little, you become the kind of person who is difficult to shake.
The kind of person who remains calm when others panic.
The kind of person who remains focused when others become distracted.
The kind of person who remains peaceful when others become overwhelmed.
And once you develop that kind of discipline, something powerful happens.
You begin realizing that your greatest asset is not your talent. It is not your resources. It is not even your opportunities.
Your greatest asset is your focus because people who protect their focus protect their future.
And that brings us to another life-changing truth.
If you want to stop letting everything shake you, you must stop allowing every distraction to steal your attention.
So let me ask you a question that could completely transform the direction of your life:
What is stealing your focus?
Not your peace.
Not your happiness.
Your focus.
Because if the enemy cannot stop your purpose, he will often try to distract you from it.
He understands something many people overlook: a distracted person rarely fulfills their full potential. The distracted believer rarely maximizes their calling. The distracted leader rarely reaches their destination. And a distracted mind rarely experiences lasting peace.
That is why some people are constantly busy but rarely productive. Constantly moving but rarely progressing. Constantly reacting but rarely advancing.
Their attention is scattered in too many directions.
They are trying to solve every problem, respond to every opinion, fight every battle, answer every criticism, and carry every burden.
And in the process, they lose sight of what truly matters.
Think about how much energy people waste every day on distractions. Hours worrying about what someone said. Hours replaying conversations. Hours stressing over situations they cannot control. Hours scrolling through information that adds no value to their lives. Hours consumed by things that have nothing to do with their purpose.
The tragedy is not merely the time lost.
The tragedy is the opportunities missed because attention was diverted elsewhere.
Because wherever your focus goes, your life follows.
Focus creates momentum.
Focus creates progress.
Focus creates growth.
Without focus, even talented people struggle. Without focus, even gifted people become ineffective. Without focus, even people with great potential remain stuck.
That is why one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to protect your attention.
Because your attention is one of the most valuable resources Elohiym has given you.
And once it is wasted, it can never be recovered.
One of the greatest biblical examples of this principle is found in the life of Nechemyah.
When Elohiym gave Nechemyah the assignment of rebuilding the walls of Yerushalayim, it was a massive undertaking. The work was important. The responsibility was significant.
The mission mattered.
And not everyone was happy about it.
As Nechemyah progressed, opposition began to appear. Critics emerged. Enemies became active. Distractions multiplied. People attempted to pull him away from the work.
In Nechemyah chapter 6, verses 1-4, his opponents repeatedly invited him to leave the project and meet with them. At first glance, it sounded harmless. It sounded reasonable.
But Nechemyah recognized something important.
The invitation was a distraction.
It was an attempt to pull him away from what Elohiym had called him to do.
And listen carefully to his response:
“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”
What a powerful statement.
Imagine applying that mindset to your own life.
When unnecessary drama appears:
I am doing a great work.
When distractions appear:
I am doing a great work.
When criticism tries to consume your attention:
I am doing a great work.
When people attempt to pull you away from your purpose:
I am doing a great work. I cannot come down.
That perspective changes everything because focused people understand something distracted people often forget.
Every “yes” requires a “no.”
Every commitment requires sacrifice.
Every purpose requires boundaries.
You cannot give your attention to everything and still fulfill your calling.
At some point, you must decide what matters most.
And once you decide, you must protect it.
Many people lose their peace because they lack boundaries. Everything gains access to their attention. Everything gains access to their emotions. Everything gains access to their time.
And eventually, their purpose gets crowded out.
But purposeful people think differently.
They understand that not everything deserves equal priority. Not every opportunity should be accepted. Not every conversation should be entertained. Not every conflict should be joined. Not every distraction deserves attention.
Because they know something valuable is at stake.
Their purpose.
Think about athletes preparing for a championship. They protect their focus. Think about successful entrepreneurs building a business. They protect their focus. Think about students pursuing excellence. They protect their focus.
The same principle applies spiritually.
If you want to become who Elohiym created you to be, you must learn to protect your focus.
Because purpose requires concentration.
Purpose requires intentionality.
Purpose requires discipline.
And perhaps someone listening today needs to hear this.
You have been giving too much attention to things that do not matter. Too much attention to opinions. Too much attention to criticism. Too much attention to distractions. Too much attention to temporary problems.
Meanwhile, your purpose has been waiting.
Your growth has been waiting.
Your calling has been waiting.
Your future has been waiting.
Imagine how much progress you could make if you redirected all that energy toward what Elohiym has actually called you to do.
Imagine how much peace you would experience.
Imagine how much clarity you would gain.
Imagine how much growth would occur.
Because peace and purpose are deeply connected.
The more focused you become on your purpose, the less easily shaken you become by distractions. The more committed you become to Elohiym’s assignment, the less power temporary problems have over you. The more intentional you become with your attention, the stronger your peace becomes.
This is one of the secrets of emotionally strong people.
They know what deserves their focus, and they refuse to surrender it lightly.
They understand that attention is too valuable to waste.
Purpose is too important to neglect.
Peace is too precious to sacrifice.
And once you learn to protect your focus, you begin experiencing something remarkable.
You stop reacting to every distraction. You stop chasing every opinion. You stop carrying every burden. You stop letting every situation shake you.
Instead, you become anchored.
Steady.
Focused.
Purposeful.
Peaceful.
But there is one final truth we must understand before we conclude.
Even the most focused person will still face challenges. Even the most disciplined believer will still encounter pressure. Even the most purposeful individual will still experience uncertainty.
The difference is that they have discovered a peace that is stronger than the pressure.
A peace that survives criticism.
A peace that survives setbacks.
A peace that survives difficult seasons.
A peace that comes from Elohiym Himself.
And that is where we are going next.
Now, let me ask you a question that may reveal why so many people keep losing their peace.
Do your emotions control you, or do you control your emotions?
That is an important question because many people assume that maturity is about feeling the right emotions. But maturity is not about always having the right feelings. Maturity is about responding wisely regardless of what you feel.
The truth is that emotions are powerful. They can inspire us, motivate us, warn us, protect us, and help us connect with others. Emotions are gifts from Elohiym. But emotions were never designed to become our leaders. They were designed to become our indicators.
They can tell us something is happening, but they should not always tell us what to do.
The problem is that many people allow emotions to become the decision-makers of their lives. If they feel angry, they react. If they feel offended, they retaliate. If they feel discouraged, they quit. If they feel afraid, they stop moving forward. If they feel anxious, they assume something terrible is about to happen.
As a result, their lives become controlled by emotional fluctuations. One day they are motivated, and the next day they are discouraged. One day they are confident, and the next day they are doubtful. One day they are focused, and the next day they are distracted.
Why?
Because they are following feelings instead of principles.
And that is a dangerous way to live.
Imagine a ship in the middle of the ocean. If the captain allowed every wave to determine the direction of the ship, the vessel would never reach its destination. The waves are real, but the captain must follow the compass.
In the same way, your emotions are real, but your emotions cannot become your compass.
Elohiym’s truth must become your compass.
Your values must become your compass.
Your purpose must become your compass.
Otherwise, you will spend your life drifting wherever your feelings take you.
One of the greatest marks of emotional maturity is learning how to pause before reacting.
Think about how many problems would disappear if people simply paused. A pause before speaking. A pause before responding. A pause before sending the message. A pause before making the decision. A pause before reacting emotionally.
That pause gives wisdom an opportunity to speak before emotions make the decision.
This is why Ya’aqov (James) chapter 1, verse 19, contains such powerful instruction:
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Notice the order.
Quick to listen.
Slow to speak.
Slow to become angry.
That is emotional discipline.
Unfortunately, many people reverse the order. They are quick to speak, quick to react, quick to become angry, and slow to listen.
Then they wonder why their peace disappears.
Emotional discipline teaches you that not every feeling deserves immediate expression. Not every frustration deserves a response. Not every offense deserves retaliation. Not every impulse deserves action.
Sometimes wisdom says, “Wait. Think. Pray. Reflect. Then respond.”
That simple habit can change your life.
Think about a common situation. Someone says something that offends you. Immediately, emotions rise. Anger begins building. The temptation is to respond instantly, to defend yourself, to prove your point, to say something that will make them feel what you feel.
But emotional discipline steps in and says, “Pause. Think. Pray. Then respond.”
That pause often prevents regret because most people regret reactions far more than restraint.
Very few people look back and say, “I wish I had reacted more emotionally.”
But countless people wish they had paused. Wish they had listened. Wish they had waited. Wish they had chosen wisdom over impulse.
The strongest people are not those who never feel emotions.
The strongest people are those who refuse to be ruled by them.
They understand that feelings change.
Truth does not.
Emotions fluctuate.
Your purpose remains.
Circumstances shift.
Elohiym remains faithful.
That perspective creates stability, and stability creates peace.
This is especially important when it comes to fear.
Fear is one of the most powerful emotions people experience. Fear can feel convincing. Fear can feel urgent. Fear can feel logical.
Yet fear often tells stories that are not true.
Fear exaggerates problems. Fear predicts disasters. Fear imagines outcomes that never happen.
If you blindly follow fear, you will spend your life avoiding opportunities, delaying growth, and surrendering peace.
That is why emotional discipline matters.
It allows you to acknowledge fear without obeying it.
It allows you to recognize anxiety without surrendering to it.
It allows you to feel uncertainty while still walking by faith.
Think about the people you admire most—the leaders, the entrepreneurs, the parents, the believers, the difference-makers. Do you think they never felt fear? Never felt discouragement? Never felt frustration?
Of course they did.
The difference is that they learned how to act according to principles rather than emotions. They learned how to remain focused when emotions were pulling them in other directions.
That is what emotional discipline does.
It protects your peace.
It protects your purpose.
It protects your future.
And perhaps someone listening today needs to hear this:
You do not have to react to everything you feel.
You do not have to follow every emotion. You do not have to obey every impulse.
You can pause.
You can think.
You can pray.
You can choose wisdom.
You can choose self-control.
You can choose peace.
Because self-control is not weakness.
It is strength under control.
It is one of the clearest signs of maturity.
And the beautiful thing is that every time you practice it, you become stronger. Every time you choose wisdom over reaction, you become stronger. Every time you choose peace over impulse, you become stronger. Every time you choose Elohiym’s perspective over emotional chaos, you become stronger.
Little by little, you become the kind of person who is difficult to shake.
The kind of person who remains calm when others panic.
The kind of person who remains focused when others become distracted.
The kind of person who remains peaceful when others become overwhelmed.
And once you develop that kind of discipline, something powerful happens.
You begin realizing that your greatest asset is not your talent. It is not your resources. It is not even your opportunities.
Your greatest asset is your focus because people who protect their focus protect their future.
And that brings us to another life-changing truth.
If you want to stop letting everything shake you, you must stop allowing every distraction to steal your attention.
So let me ask you a question that could completely transform the direction of your life:
What is stealing your focus?
Not your peace.
Not your happiness.
Your focus.
Because if the enemy cannot stop your purpose, he will often try to distract you from it.
He understands something many people overlook: a distracted person rarely fulfills their full potential. The distracted believer rarely maximizes their calling. The distracted leader rarely reaches their destination. And a distracted mind rarely experiences lasting peace.
That is why some people are constantly busy but rarely productive. Constantly moving but rarely progressing. Constantly reacting but rarely advancing.
Their attention is scattered in too many directions.
They are trying to solve every problem, respond to every opinion, fight every battle, answer every criticism, and carry every burden.
And in the process, they lose sight of what truly matters.
Think about how much energy people waste every day on distractions. Hours worrying about what someone said. Hours replaying conversations. Hours stressing over situations they cannot control. Hours scrolling through information that adds no value to their lives. Hours consumed by things that have nothing to do with their purpose.
The tragedy is not merely the time lost.
The tragedy is the opportunities missed because attention was diverted elsewhere.
Because wherever your focus goes, your life follows.
Focus creates momentum.
Focus creates progress.
Focus creates growth.
Without focus, even talented people struggle. Without focus, even gifted people become ineffective. Without focus, even people with great potential remain stuck.
That is why one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to protect your attention.
Because your attention is one of the most valuable resources Elohiym has given you.
And once it is wasted, it can never be recovered.
One of the greatest biblical examples of this principle is found in the life of Nechemyah.
When Elohiym gave Nechemyah the assignment of rebuilding the walls of Yerushalayim, it was a massive undertaking. The work was important. The responsibility was significant.
The mission mattered.
And not everyone was happy about it.
As Nechemyah progressed, opposition began to appear. Critics emerged. Enemies became active. Distractions multiplied. People attempted to pull him away from the work.
In Nechemyah chapter 6, verses 1-4, his opponents repeatedly invited him to leave the project and meet with them. At first glance, it sounded harmless. It sounded reasonable.
But Nechemyah recognized something important.
The invitation was a distraction.
It was an attempt to pull him away from what Elohiym had called him to do.
And listen carefully to his response:
“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”
What a powerful statement.
Imagine applying that mindset to your own life.
When unnecessary drama appears:
I am doing a great work.
When distractions appear:
I am doing a great work.
When criticism tries to consume your attention:
I am doing a great work.
When people attempt to pull you away from your purpose:
I am doing a great work. I cannot come down.
That perspective changes everything because focused people understand something distracted people often forget.
Every “yes” requires a “no.”
Every commitment requires sacrifice.
Every purpose requires boundaries.
You cannot give your attention to everything and still fulfill your calling.
At some point, you must decide what matters most.
And once you decide, you must protect it.
Many people lose their peace because they lack boundaries. Everything gains access to their attention. Everything gains access to their emotions. Everything gains access to their time.
And eventually, their purpose gets crowded out.
But purposeful people think differently.
They understand that not everything deserves equal priority. Not every opportunity should be accepted. Not every conversation should be entertained. Not every conflict should be joined. Not every distraction deserves attention.
Because they know something valuable is at stake.
Their purpose.
Think about athletes preparing for a championship. They protect their focus. Think about successful entrepreneurs building a business. They protect their focus. Think about students pursuing excellence. They protect their focus.
The same principle applies spiritually.
If you want to become who Elohiym created you to be, you must learn to protect your focus.
Because purpose requires concentration.
Purpose requires intentionality.
Purpose requires discipline.
And perhaps someone listening today needs to hear this.
You have been giving too much attention to things that do not matter. Too much attention to opinions. Too much attention to criticism. Too much attention to distractions. Too much attention to temporary problems.
Meanwhile, your purpose has been waiting.
Your growth has been waiting.
Your calling has been waiting.
Your future has been waiting.
Imagine how much progress you could make if you redirected all that energy toward what Elohiym has actually called you to do.
Imagine how much peace you would experience.
Imagine how much clarity you would gain.
Imagine how much growth would occur.
Because peace and purpose are deeply connected.
The more focused you become on your purpose, the less easily shaken you become by distractions. The more committed you become to Elohiym’s assignment, the less power temporary problems have over you. The more intentional you become with your attention, the stronger your peace becomes.
This is one of the secrets of emotionally strong people.
They know what deserves their focus, and they refuse to surrender it lightly.
They understand that attention is too valuable to waste.
Purpose is too important to neglect.
Peace is too precious to sacrifice.
And once you learn to protect your focus, you begin experiencing something remarkable.
You stop reacting to every distraction. You stop chasing every opinion. You stop carrying every burden. You stop letting every situation shake you.
Instead, you become anchored.
Steady.
Focused.
Purposeful.
Peaceful.
But there is one final truth we must understand before we conclude.
Even the most focused person will still face challenges. Even the most disciplined believer will still encounter pressure. Even the most purposeful individual will still experience uncertainty.
The difference is that they have discovered a peace that is stronger than the pressure.
A peace that survives criticism.
A peace that survives setbacks.
A peace that survives difficult seasons.
A peace that comes from Elohiym Himself.
And that is where we are going next.
