Ever had one of those days where you just felt downright miserable for no apparent reason? Okay, let’s be honest…what girl hasn’t? Sometimes we wake up and start our day with bright eyes, ready to take on the world…but others we have zero motivation and feel like moaning and screaming at the drop of a pin. Now I don’t pretend to know all kinds of top-secret information on the female psyche, but I do know this for a fact — our hormones are playing a huge part in how we feel on any given day. More importantly: if we are not careful, our hormones will influence the way we think and react to any situation at any time. That can be quite a scary thought!
Ladies, I want each of you to remember as you are reading this that our hormones are a natural part of all of us. —BUT— just like anything that comes naturally to us, our hormones can get us in a world of trouble. We need to realize that 1. We are more than flesh and bones. 2. We are more than our feelings, and 3. We belong to a faithful God, and He is able to provide an escape for every temptation we might face – if only we will turn to Him. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“So if hormones are just a natural part of life, how do I know if they have gotten out of control? How do I know when to say NO to this part of my flesh? ”
I need to say NO when….
1. My hormones CONSOLE me (emotionally)
Sometimes we allow our feelings to get the best of us, and what’s more…sometimes we find this rather enjoyable. Admit it, we all enjoy a good pity party every now and again! {insert sarcasm here} Okay – while we might not think we particularly thrill in sorrow, let’s be honest…if we didn’t find some enjoyment in feeling sorry for ourselves, why would we do it? Girls, when we feel consoled by our hormones, we are letting ourselves be caught up in a dangerous addiction that leads right down the road to nowhere. Our Lord doesn’t look too kindly on those who choose to be in a perpetual state of misery, but rather reproves them! (Think Jonah, Martha, and The Israelites to name only a few!)
In Ecclesiastes 7:3 it says that sorrow is better than laughter, and by sadness our heart is actually made better! Keeping that thought in mind, let us ponder 2 Corinthians 7:10. This passage teaches us that there is a godly sorrow that brings forth repentance; on the other hand, there is a worldly sorrow that brings forth death.
Our emotions should be spent on Godly things like:
Sorrow for our sins – leading us to a repentant response.
-or-
Feeling pity for others – leading us to a compassionate response.
Galatians 6:8 …He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Let us ask ourselves whether or not our hormonal woes are leading us towards Godly responses in life!
I need to say NO when…
2. My hormones CONTROL me (physically)
What does a hormonal response to worldly sorrow look like?
I’ll tell you….it looks carnal, savage, and out of control! Once we have let our hormones console us, the next step in the addiction is to let our hormones control us. Ladies, when we are following our flesh rather than God’s Spirit, if we feel upset we are going to act out in ways that a Christian should never act. If we feel hurt, we’re automatically going to get spiteful. Ungoverned, our hormones can have us swearing at the neighbors, screaming at the kids and essentially going through life ready to fly off the handle at anyone who looks at us wrong. This is not the way God expects His children to handle life.
Let us look at Ephesians 2:2, taking care to pay special attention to the emphasized words.
“In times past we….walked according to the course of this world; walked according to the prince of the power of the air….our conversations were in the lusts of the flesh; we fulfilled the desires of the flesh and mind; we were by nature the children of wrath.”
Notice how these were all things we used to do. Now that we are Christians, we are held to a higher standard of holiness than non-believers. We will not be held unaccountable if we continue in sin without repentance!
Galatians 5:24 …They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
I need to say NO when…
3. My hormones TAKE A TOLL on me (spiritually)
Finally, we will know and be known by our fruits. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:19) Does a woman led by her hormones bring forth good fruit? I’m afraid not.
It is true that at times we might feel hopeless. We might be asking ourselves how we will ever be able to restrain ourselves from worldly responses when our hormones are encouraging us to pity ourselves, lash out at others, etc. The answer is in these two passages:
Romans 13:14 …Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians 5:16 …Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Mrs. Dustin Bolks