I have always had a negative connotation of “stoicism.” I always believed that stoics were cold, unfeeling, and emotionless, men and women without empathy. To me they more resembled robots than humans. And the thought of living without a heart nauseates me. Living without emotion is an amputation of the self, and often done by those attempting to save self. This is not what I am talking about at all. What I am coming to believe is there is a stoicalness that is valuable and actually Godly. Where living as a stoic can actually be a reflection of our faith in God. Ultimately it is not being controlled by your emotions or environment but rather empowered in Him.
Living as a Stoic
In times of crisis it is easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. We can become hysterical and off kilter by listening to the news media in our land. We are sheep and easily scared. The fact is we are influenced by what we hear and see. But I am going to show how living as a stoic may just be standing firm in faith more than capping our emotions gone amuck.
A stoic is defined as a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. There are reasons people do this that have some merit. Being a stock trader for instance. You don’t want emotions to rule your decisions in this case. The market flexes too much and if you base your trades on “how you’re feeling in the moment” you will almost always make a rash decision in the wrong direction. Buy high and sell low anyone? So I am not promoting killing your heart nor running an episode of Emotions Gone Wild, either.
The Benefits is Stoicism
If our stoicism is sourced in simply clamping down our emotions through self-control, then we are only controlling our flesh with the flesh. A fruitless path indeed. But there is another way. It is living in the stoicism of a firm faith in God. This is what I am choosing. I want to be a “stoic” rooted and grounded in the faith that I have an immovable God.
In these days of conspiracies and crisis, it is far too easy to get caught up in the vortex of information. Like being caught up in a tornado, you get spun and flung to God only knows where. As you might have gleaned in what I have said, my use of the word “stoic” is just a label I am using to describe a man or woman in FAITH. If my stoicism is a reflection of my faith, this is wonderful. If I am living unshaken in shaky times, this is wonderful. It is not based in me at all, but Jesus.
Controlled by the Spirit not Circumstance
You can see the benefit of living moored to God’s Faith and not carried away by emotion? This is how I am relating stoicism to our faith in God. We can live where our emotions don’t control us, even while feeling them. This takes the time in relationship with our Savior—hearing, obeying, abiding. This is how I would love us all to live, in FAITH. While the winds of change may blow, we can live sailing in The Wind of the Spirit. This stance is empowering and responsible, it is not being controlled by circumstance but rather led by the Lord.
Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 NLT
Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians 3:17 NLT
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall remain stable and fixed under The shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, My God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
Psalm 91:1,2 AMP
If you enjoy the reality of the strength of living in God’s Faith, even in the weakness of our crisis, you will truly love Martha’s soon to be released Message of the Month for September – The Powers of God. I am always amazed how God weaves together Martha’s and my messages together. While her message is not the same, it certainly is complimentary. Hope you can enjoy her message too.
I’m pretty emotional. ? But I see stoicism as choice. When you’ve made your choice, then emotions don’t really matter. Let’s purpose to seek God’s will, set it as our choice, and ignore our emotions that are so easily manipulated by evil. Thank you for the reminder!
Amazingly, the empowering choice is not about refusing to be ruled by our emotions, but trusting in the faith of God. Really it relates to the sinking down post. I am tired of being blown by every breeze, when I live by the WIND. Love ya Alex.