I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

 There are times in life when things don’t always go as planned, which yield a whole bunch of powerful emotions like anger, stress, and pressure to overcome. And unfortunately, it’s during those times that a heap of other issues suddenly develop that weigh you down emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And the troubling part of this equation, you can’t just walk away from life, you must face it.

 If you’ve ever been to car races, the driver is constantly revving his engine. He does this to prepare the engine for the enduring race by building pressure in all systems, warming the engine to maximum performance, and the sound gives the driver a motivational boost to get in the race. The same thing happens when we see trouble on the horizon. Our minds begin to develop plans how to overcome, our blood pressure rises, and our emotions become like a hot engine…ready to take off. You probably know what happens next.

 I’m almost certain when Paul penned today’s verses he knew that those church members would face severe consequences for their faith and pressures from outside forces trying to stop or discourage their worship. He didn’t need a group of emotional Christians going nuts, he needed them to reflect the true nature and character of Christ. Life’s pressures can most certainly generate words and actions that don’t reflect the message of today’s verses. But, a gentle spirit, with patience, and humility, can turn a stressful moment into a calming environment that God can use to help you and bring Him glory.

 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1.

 Whatever you are facing right now, turn it over to God, so you can deal with it in a calming manner to protect your Christian witness! God bless!