Excuse Me, Mr. Emotions … I Didn’t Invite You On This Trip!
posted on August 20th, 2010 / by Kari Jobe / 18 CommentsIt was 5:30 in the morning when my ride to the airport pulled up outside my house. I had had a quiet, lovely morning alone as I got ready and finished packing for a routine road trip. Excitement was brewing in my heart for what God was gonna do. I love it when my band travels with me and was happy to meet up with them at the airport. For most of our trips, we fly a certain airline that does not charge baggage fees. If we all stay on the same record locator, this works quite nicely. Little did I know that this morning would not work out that way.
Upon arrival, the guys and I walked up to the ticket counter with 2 bags each (12 bags total). This was quite a daunting sight at 6:00 am. Just like all the other times we’ve checked in, I calmly handed the ticket agent all of our IDs and said, “Yes, sir, we’re checking in for the 7:30 am flight to Chicago.” The ticket agent responded, saying, “OK, do you have your record locator or advantage number?” I proceeded to give him the info he needed. “OK ma’am, I see here that you are on a separate record locator this morning, so there will be baggage fees for the whole band,” said the lovely man behind the counter.
I can’t explain why or what happened inside my sweet brain, but this made me super upset. I felt like someone flipped on a switch inside of me that said, “Warning … she’s about to explode!” No matter how hard I tried to explain that we fly all the time and are always put on the same record locator, it seemed like the man only heard gibberish. He simply would not help me. Oh my … the emotions that were brewing inside my head and heart! I had to pay for the “millions of bags,” at least that’s what it felt like to me, and continue through the rest of the check-in process.
I walked away extremely upset with myself. Why is it that our emotions can get so out of whack in a matter of moments? Here we are, minding our own business, having a peachy day, and someone can do one thing that we don’t agree with and there goes our sanity. It’s out the window before we even know what hit us. Inside our minds, we’re picturing what it would look like to jump across the counter and grab that pen with a flower taped to the top of it. (You know, the ones that are supposed to look like “real” flowers in a small pot on the counter so people don’t steal them, but they’re not flowers, they’re pens!!) Yes, grab one of those and proceed to poke the man’s eye out! Oh wait, is that just me?? Am I the only one who has these thoughts?
Well, I’m not a mom yet, but I did have five sets of eyeballs (my band) watching me that morning. And I knew I had a choice … I could either jump across the counter or keep my cool and just pay. But oh, the thoughts that were going on inside of my head! 
Ladies, you know exactly what I’m talking about!! We are very aware of our emotions. Imagine with me the idea of a perfect world. A world where we can wake up in the morning and it’s like the first scene in the Disney movie Cinderella. You know, she wakes up looking beautiful; just like we all do every single morning!! 
She starts singing as the cute little birds fly into her bedroom and join in. (What, this isn’t normal??) She even knows she’ll have to talk and interact with her lovely stepmother who doesn’t even like her; but yet, she’s having a fine and peaceful morning. I know Disney is not real-life, but I believe we can have a life that resembles this. Here’s why: I believe that God wants us to learn to live out our lives with an authority and peace of knowing who we are. He can help us have control of our emotions … where circumstances and people around us do not easily upset us.
We are all trying to walk out our destinies, and each day brings different things for us to encounter. Not everything we face is predictable, and we’re finding that it looks so different than what we expected in the beginning. I believe we need to learn to let go. Let go? No way … I have to stay in control of things! Why is it that we feel like since we kinda see our calling out in front of us that we now have the responsibility to “make it happen”? Destiny is about knowing God, being known by Him, and then walking out only what He says. He’s a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Lamps only illuminate a small area for us to walk. We can’t plan out our whole future. Only HE knows the plan. Our role is to be in relationship with Him; to obey and trust Him as we walk through the area that HE has illuminated. And the rest? We’ll know when we get there. He doesn’t give us more than we can handle.
I’ve learned that my emotions get all misconstrued when I try to take on things alone. Yes, we’re going to have visions and desires in our hearts, but that’s His beautiful grace. He created us to be planners and visionaries. Yet, He only gives us glimpses so we are not overwhelmed. Our true responsibility is to spend time with Him and then walk it out.
So, when those moments happen throughout the day that try to steal our joy, peace and patience … you know, the most delicious fruits we’re supposed to live life with … know that we have daily grace to draw on. Just walk it out one step at a time! And the next time Mr. Emotions tries to invade your space, just say, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t invite you on this trip.”
A LITTLE ABOUT KARI:
Young girls dream about becoming lawyers, fashion designers, nurses or mothers. But for Kari Jobe, she knew by the age of 10 she would be a worship leader. Raised in a Christian home with a father who was a traveling minister, Kari began singing in church when she was three. Throughout high school and college, Kari watched God set the path before her as she began leading worship in various places. She spent time studying at Oral Roberts University, Christ For The Nations and Dallas Baptist University, where she finished her psychology and Pastoral Ministries degree. Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, her home church for more than seven years, hired her as a worship pastor after graduation.
Whether Kari’s leading worship at Gateway or around the country, the work of ministry always comes back to people. “I am moved by people’s lives and stories, and I am amazed by who God is and who He says that we are. Music becomes a way to minister to people in times of trouble, to lead them to the feet of Jesus who can bring peace, life, hope and healing.”
You can read more about Kari and what she is up to at: http://www.karijobe.com
You can also follow her on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/karijobe
I can so relate! I actually had a moment this week and just this morning I felt prompted to go and apologize because I know my stressed out, emotional response had a negative effect. In that moment I was taking everything on in my own strength and trying so hard to make it all work. Thank you, this blessed me, encouraged me and reminded me that others have these moments also but He is enough and has a plan. Good stuff!
I *so* needed this today. We're already a few timeouts into the day, and it's only 9! Part of the problem is that neither my or my daughter's emotions are in check. I can't control hers, of course, I can let Him control mine.
What a revelation for me this morning. Thank you for letting me know that I am not the only one that loses control of my emotions every now and then. An event happened yesterday that I had been praying about and it did not turn out the way I thought God would respond to my certain situation. Unfortunately, I did let it still my joy, peace and patience. But, guess what? After spending time with him, I realized that God indeed took care of every little detail.
Thanks for your wonderful words today!
Kari, you're such a blessing to all of us! Thank you for speaking this truth in to my life today! I've really needed to hear this lately!
"Our true responsibility is to spend time with Him and then walk it out." This is so simply but I have found it to be the key to living every day, every potential road rage drive as I move forward into all that God has for me. And I know that you live it too because the Holy Spirit is clearly poured out through your songs. Blessings to you!
Thanks for blogging your thoughts. It’s true emotions pop up and want our undivided attention. It is super sweet when we can walk in the Spirit, in peace and self control. God gets so much glory when we let Him lead and not our emotions. God bless.
This post fits perfect with how my week went. I appreciate you blogging your thoughts and speaking honesty into our lives. If we allow God to control our decisions, desires, and emotions everything falls into place just perfectly. Thanks Again!
So glad I read this before I went back to school shopping during tax free weekend. Everytime I would get in a super long line and see everyone getting super frustrated and acting out rudely, I kept thinking of this post!! Thanks so much Kari! I am so glad God put this on your heart to share with all of us!! You are such a blessing to us all!!
Kari,
May God bless you and your ministry. It's so hard sometimes to compose our selves when life is becoming wacky. I always pray for you and that God would watch over you and give you the grace to stand on His promises and the faith to walk with Him (Lyrics from worship leaders Keith and Kristyn Getty.)
You ARE a role model for younger girls (we are always watching you) so my God help you in every situation.
Thanks for this blog!
Grace and Peace,
Kari, this is a great story, and I love the simple, practical instruction you give. Let go. Spend time with God. Walk out what He shows us. Don't sweat the rest. Good stuff! Thanks for writing for DIB!
So good to read this! I tend to freak out when things don't go 'my' way or the way I assume they'll go. I'm THRILLED that our church is focusing on anger this series (Tick'd at Keystone) and LOVE hearing anything I can to help me break free of anger issues! Thanks Kari!!!
That's awesome Kari!! What a great reminder!! I hope that the next time I'm about to explode, it will occur to me to ask the Lord to give me His strength to give grace and to hold my tongue, esp. to my kids, since they know exactly what buttons to push with me!! ;o)
Kari, you really should write more often.
Kari- Yes, talking about emotions and women seem to go hand in hand! I can so relate with wanting to hurt the guy on the end of my frustration (I'm not saying I'm a violent person..lol). The flesh has a way of rising up when someone tries to tells us things are not going to go the way we had planned! And these things do steal our joy and our patience. But when we uninvite Mr Emotions and call out to Mr Holy Spirit, it definitely can have a happy ending! Thanks for living out a life of grace and pouring it into others! Blessings!
This is a blessing.. Truely.. every woman needs to read this.
I have grown up hearing singing thy word is a lamp unto my feet, but never got the revelation that a lamp only shines in small area. This is awesome & something I needed to be reminded of. By reading this I was also reminded of how much our words/ revelations can uplift others. There is much uncertainty in my life right now. Im reminded that even though I can't see that far ahead that I can trust that God will be my lamp.
What an important message in a world where emotions are esteemed virtue. I have four girls, and I am always watching for ways to teach them to be in control of their emotions. It is a skill every woman should hone.
Kari-I know that I told you I loved your article, but just wanted to again thank you, and let you know, that every time I see one of those blasted pens disguised as flowers, I laugh and think of you!! So grateful that I'm not the only one who wants to shout-"This is not a flower!! It's a pen!!!" Thank you again for sharing your heart! m