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“Calm down!” Look … has anyone in the history of calming down ever calmed down when told to calm down? Absolutely not! You have seen it a ton of times where a child is being hysterical and the parent is asking them to calm down. Maybe you have told your significant other to calm down and then saw the fires from the depths of Satan’s home bellowing behind those eyes. It can give you chills just thinking about it, can’t it?

Someone recently posted on social media that saying ‘you need to calm down’ lacks empathy, is a rude command and is simply stating the obvious. No one in the history of calming down has ever calmed down when being told to calm down. The social media post continued with another option: saying ‘good, good, let the hate flow through you’ may be an easier option. This way you are affirming their feelings, confirming it’s normal to be upset, and helping them embrace the unlimited potential of the dark side. Hahaha. That ain’t good either. So what can we do? Well for one thing we need to understand that it is alright to get upset, BUT don’t sin while doing so! Ephesians 4:26 & 27 challenges us saying, “Be angry, and yet do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil a foothold.” If you know you have a tendency to build up pressure or explode, you need to learn to step away for a bit and find the strength needed to knock out this situation (but not the person causing this). In John 14, Jesus promised that He was leaving us His peace and giving us this peace to not allow our heart to become troubled. Let’s be honest, we have to admit we probably do need to calm down. Instead of telling someone to calm down, or telling them to join the dark side, why not ask: “How may I serve you?” Some folks need to be left alone and work it out in their mind. Some folks need to talk it out. Some need a hug and confirmation of care. Some just need ice cream. Find your peace. Stop allowing the storms of life to throw you around the boat. Seek the calm for your storm. “Don’t let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me (Jesus).”-John 14:1. Don’t be that person to just stand back and say “calm down.” That does no one any benefit. Having a hard time? Stressed? Overwhelmed? Filled to the rim and about to explode? I’ve been there too. “How may I serve you?” #bethegood

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.