Traits: Emotional Stability

I am continuing on with the series I started called “Traits of a Missionary” with one trait that really gets me choked up and estatic all at the same time: Emotional Stability…..

It would not be overstating things to say that missionaries, like other ministers, deal with the highs and lows of life often.  Because of being away from family, living in a new culture, and getting into the “guts” of human experience, missionaries may experience bouts of loneliness, depression, boredom, and hopelessness. 

On the flip side, they may also experience the highest of highs when they see breakthrough in their ministry or their God given visions coming to pass.  They may feel energized by a passion for the calling that God has placed in their life and ride high with idealistic with hope for the future.  This is a good place to be, but not for too long.

Despite the highs and lows, the effective missionary knows how to pull himself back to center.  He knows that the lows and highs will all eventually pass, so he doesn’t stay too long in either place. 

In my personal preparation, I can say that working on straight commission has tested my emotions to the max.  High highs and low lows are common in the line of work that I have been apart of over the last 5+ years.  We can go from “hero to zero” each and every month.  I have watched many people not be able to handle the roller coaster of emotions. 

It hasn’t always been easy, in fact it’s been excruciating sometimes, but it’s worth “laboring  to enter” the rest and peace of God.  God promises us many things including a supernatural peace, freedom from anxiety, and release from worry, among other things, if we will tap into it by faith.