{Spiritual Fitness} Grown Up Temper Tantrums

We've all been there. A situation where you can go from happy to raging in a matter of seconds. Kids do it all the time. They flop down on the ground and start kicking and screaming. Imagine that being you the next time you start a hormone rage. 

I can't articulate what makes me upset any more because the lines are no longer clearly defined. I burst out in tears when my boyfriend kisses me because I'm so stressed out about everything. I feel like regardless of time, day, situation, location, I'm a time bomb about to explode at the drop of a hat. 

We as women tend to have hormones that run rampant in our lives. Maybe yours are under control and they don't fluctuate as much as others... If that's the case, you've been incredibly blessed!! For others of us, it's hard to not let our hormones control us. 

I joke that I can always tell my time of the month is coming when I want to break up with Josh (meanwhile we've been dating for almost 2 years and I know he's who I want to spend my life with). 

I'm not going to say this isn't normal, because for many women it is! But it does create a strain on the relationship that isn't needed and that can be emotionally damaging for him. 

Other times I will lose it randomly on some poor sales clerk at the store because he didn't use all of my coupons. At the time I feel perfectly justified to be snarky with him, but afterward I always leave feeling like a crazed lunatic.

So the question is, what can we do about controlling our emotions and hormones? 

The Bible doesn't say much about hormones other than lustful desires; this can definitely be a struggle but right now I want to focus on what we as women can do during our raging hormones to keep our femininity in tact and avoid letting our inner beast rear its nasty head. 

The first and foremost should be to arm ourselves with scripture and preach it to ourselves when we know that we are being irrational (and if you say "Oh, I'm never irrational," just ask someone close to you about it and I'm sure they'll be able to point something out :)) 

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

-Romans 13:14

This can apply to sexual desire, food cravings, caving into the need to tell the the clerk exactly what you're thinking when he messes something up, wanting to punch something when it doesn't go your way, and ultimately flopping on your bed in a puddle of tears out of frustration.

It's a desire to give in to the lies Satan wants us to believe. Were fat, the clerk is stupid, you need to be sexually attractive for a man to like you; it's just NOT true and hormones are the easiest way for satan to get to you. 

So here's the challenge: the next time you recognize a hormone fit coming on, stop for a moment and pray for God's help. It may seem silly, but when The Lord is called upon, he is faithful to answer. 

Finding freedom in an over sexualized age

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body."

-1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV


It's not and easy thing to talk about...
It may be an even harder thing to walk out...

Especially in an age where everything is so sexualized and a woman's self worth is commonly based on how many men she can catch. Yet it seems to be a fine line - according to worldly men, how many men is acceptable for a woman to have slept with before it becomes a deal breaker?

The correct answer should be 1. All it takes is one time to desensitize to the potency of saving sex for your husband. Too many times have I seen my own friends who have been raised in the ways of The Lord give it up before they are married and almost every time she feels like crap about herself afterward.

God doesn't care if you've just been on the first date or if you've been dating for years. The act is still the same. It doesn't glorify God, nor is it a testimony of trusting Him in your relationship. Saving sex is hard... And my parents were right, as you find the one that you are going to marry and realize it, it's even harder to wait.

When we choose as couples to give the struggle of sex over to God and ask him to help us with it, he is faithful. It's one step in drawing you and your significant other closer into The Lord while exploring the possibly of spending your lives together.

And isn't that verse from Corinthians amazingly convicting? By choosing to give up our virginity, we are giving away one of the most sacred, natural, gifts we have. Don't we want to make sure that who we are giving it to will value and appreciate it for the rest of their lives?

It's ok if you think I'm crazy and that it's old fashioned and can't be done in today's day and age, but I'm here to tell you that it can! I feel like I may be one of the only in my group of friends that is still a virgin, but you know what? I'm not ashamed of it like society tells me I should be, I'm proud because its how I choose to bring glory to God's name.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you are a bad person if you've chosen not to wait. It is your decision and you have to do what you feel is right. You are a beautiful creation just the same!

However, If you are struggling with regret about your decision, I just want you to know that I am praying for you and that God is still in love with you even if you don't feel like he could be. Is it possible to take the act back? No. But you can spiritually "revirginize" as a part of the healing process. All it takes is a strong willpower and repentance.

I feel like victims of rape are a special case. You did not willingly choose to give it up, it was taken from you. My heart breaks for the women that this applies to. I pray for your healing regularly as it is something that is close to my heart.

Regardless of where you are in life or what circumstance you are in, god has given us this gift that we should use just as any other gift to glorify him. The use of it is just different if you're single as opposed to married.

Lets stick together though this hard time, girls! It's hard to go it alone but if you know there are other women struggling the same as you are it makes it a little easier.

Lastly, as a you g Christian woman it can be easy to feel condemnation about thoughts and feelings that may be lustful. Don't shame yourself for the feelings God has instilled in you!! They are a natural part of the way God made you to feel for your husband, so just prayerfully hand them over to Him as you wait to be married to your Prince Charming :)