STOP LETTING EVERYTHING SHAKE YOU — PART 8

Ya’aqov (James)













Today we are walking in:

STOP LETTING EVERYTHING SHAKE YOU — PART 8
















Ya’aqov (James) 1:19

“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 — H750 — arak — to be long, patient, slow, endure, delay, or exercise restraint.









The Torah Testifies………

Shemoth (Exodus) 34:6

“And YAHUAH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YAHUAH, YAHUAH El, merciful and gracious, longsuffering H750, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

Bemidbar (Numbers) 14:18

“YAHUAH is longsuffering H750, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression…”










The Prophets Proclaim………

Yonah (Jonah) 4:2

“…for I knew that Thou art a gracious El, and merciful, slow H750 to anger, and of great kindness…”

Nachum (Nahum) 1:3

“YAHUAH is slow H750 to anger, and great in power…”











The Writings Witness………

Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:29

“He that is slow H750 to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”

Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 7:9

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”









Now let me ask you a question that may reveal why so many people continue losing their peace.

Do your emotions control you…

Or do you control your emotions?

That is an important question.

Many people assume maturity is about always having the right feelings.

But maturity is not about having the right feelings.

It is about responding wisely regardless of how you feel.

The truth is that emotions are powerful.

They can inspire us.

Motivate us.

Warn us.

Protect us.

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.

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.

The next day discouraged.

One day confident.

The next day doubtful.

One day focused.

The next day distracted.

Why?

Because they are following feelings instead of principles.

That is a dangerous way to live.

Imagine a ship crossing 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 follows the compass.

In the same way…

Your emotions are real.

But they 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 often says things emotions never would.

That is why Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 gives us 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.

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 simply says:

Wait.

Think.

Pray.

Then respond.

That simple habit can change your life.

Think about a common situation.

Someone says something offensive.

Immediately emotions begin to rise.

Anger starts building.

The temptation is to respond instantly.

To defend yourself.

To prove your point.

To say something that makes them feel what you feel.

But emotional discipline steps in and says:

Pause.

Think.

Pray.

Then respond.

That pause 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.

Listened.

Waited.

Chosen wisdom instead of 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.

Purpose remains.

Circumstances shift.

Elohiym remains faithful.

That perspective creates stability.

And stability creates peace.

This is especially true when it comes to fear.

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions people experience.

Fear feels convincing.

Fear feels urgent.

Fear often feels logical.

Yet fear 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…

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 continuing to walk by faith.

Think about the people you admire most.

Leaders.

Parents.

Entrepreneurs.

Believers.

Difference-makers.

Do you think they never felt fear?

Never became discouraged?

Never felt frustrated?

Of course they did.

The difference is that they learned to act according to principles instead of emotions.

They learned to remain focused even when emotions tried to pull them elsewhere.

That is what emotional discipline does.

It protects your peace.

It protects your purpose.

It protects your future.

Perhaps someone reading this 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 spiritual maturity.

The beautiful thing is…

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 while others panic.

Focused while others become distracted.

Peaceful while others become overwhelmed.

Once you develop that kind of discipline…

You begin realizing something powerful.

Your greatest asset is not your talent.

Not your resources.

Not even your opportunities.

Your greatest asset is your focus.

Because people who protect their focus…

Protect their future.

That brings us to another life-changing truth.

If you truly want to stop letting everything shake you…

You must stop allowing every distraction to steal your attention.