OVERCOMING PART 3 - EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY
- Dr B.J. Stagner
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
We live in a time of emotional turbulence. Anger, depression, anxiety, and discouragement are widespread. Many people feel as though their emotions are driving them rather than the other way around. A recent NHS report (2022) found that 1 in 4 adults in the UK experience mental health struggles each year, and the most common of these are emotional instability—swinging between hope and despair, peace and turmoil, joy and sorrow.
David, the shepherd-king of Israel, was no stranger to emotional highs and lows. He knew the exhilarating victory of slaying Goliath and the crushing despair of betrayal, loss, and personal failure. Yet in Psalm 23:3, David testifies, “He restoreth my soul.” Restoration is God’s answer to emotional instability.
Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture. Verse 3 contains two promises:
“He restoreth my soul” – The Hebrew word for “restore” (shub) means “to bring back, to refresh, to renew.” It paints the picture of a shepherd finding a weary or cast-down sheep and gently lifting it to its feet again. Our souls can be exhausted, broken, or unstable, but the Shepherd revives them.
“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” – God does not just patch up our emotions temporarily. He guides us onto the right paths—paths of holiness and balance. His reputation (“for his name’s sake”) is tied to His faithfulness in guiding us.
David knew that while emotions shift, God’s presence is constant. Where our soul is restless, His Spirit restores. Where our mind is scattered, His Word steadies.
Paul teaches us prayer brings peace that guards the heart and mind in Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Christ’s peace is not like the world’s peace; it steadies the soul: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
When our life is fixed on the Lord, we find perfect peace — Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Charles Spurgeon, who himself battled depression, once said: “I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.” Even the greatest preachers have wrestled with emotional instability, yet God used their weakness to highlight His restoring power.
A modern example can be found in the world of sports. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps admitted to severe bouts of depression following his victories. He said at one point, “I didn’t want to be alive anymore.” Yet he discovered that stability came not from success but from discipline, structure, and support—principles that align with Scripture’s call to prayer, fellowship, and obedience.
The Nature of Emotional Instability
Emotional instability can take many forms:
Mood swings – fluctuating from joy to sorrow.
Anxiety – anticipating disaster without reason.
Anger – quick reactions without self-control.
Discouragement – feeling hopeless or defeated.
Each of these reflects the brokenness of our fallen nature. The flesh is fickle. But the good news is this: Christ restores what sin and circumstance destabilise.
How God Restores Emotional Stability
Through His Presence
David writes in Psalm 16:11, “In thy presence is fulness of joy.” Emotional balance begins not with self-help strategies but with seeking God’s presence daily. Prayer, worship, and silence before Him renew the soul.
Through His Word
Hebrews 4:12 describes God’s Word as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Scripture provides clarity when emotions cloud judgment. For example, when Elijah was depressed and ready to die (1 Kings 19), God fed him, spoke truth to him, and redirected him. The Word restores perspective.
Through His People
Galatians 6:2 commands us to bear one another’s burdens. Isolation magnifies instability, but community provides support. Accountability groups, church fellowship, and godly friendships are stabilising forces.
Through His Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit includes peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Emotional stability is not achieved by suppressing feelings but by surrendering to the Spirit who produces godly balance.
In a culture that often tells us to “follow your heart,” Scripture reminds us that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Following feelings leads to instability, but following Christ leads to peace.
Statistics confirm that habits such as journaling prayer, Scripture memorisation, and daily gratitude improve emotional resilience. A 2020 Harvard study showed that gratitude practices reduced emotional volatility and increased well-being by 25%. These findings only echo what Scripture declared long ago—that giving thanks in all things steadies the heart (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Here are some practical steps for stability:
Start each day with Scripture before scrolling social media.
When emotions flare, pause to pray rather than react.
Surround yourself with godly influences—music, friends, books.
Memorise key verses for peace (Philippians 4:7, Isaiah 41:10).
Seek counsel from pastors or mentors when emotions overwhelm.
Our Closing Challenge
Emotions will rise and fall like waves, but Christ is the anchor. When your soul feels cast down, remember the Shepherd restores. When instability shakes you, remember the Spirit steadies. When the path seems uncertain, remember He leads for His name’s sake.
“Peace rules the day when Christ rules the mind.” – Unknown
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