Psalm 4 – Emotional Roots

David is in the midst of intense suffering and yet he can sleep soundly. His emotions do not control him. He is absolutely confident that God will come through for him. If we allow it, suffering will cause our false gods, our disordered loves, our inordinate desires to burn away. We come to the realization that our idols won’t come through for us. Only God.

“Pull up your uncontrollable emotions by the roots and you will find your idols clinging to them.” – Tim Keller.

The other day I became frustrated when my daughter wanted to ask me a series of questions as I was trying to finish my cleaning. She was interrupting my productivity and I kept brushing her off. Later I asked myself why it was so important for me to finish my chores rather than spend time with her. As I dug underneath the emotion, I realized my heart was believing a lie… “If I don’t get xyz done, I am inadequate. I am unable.” My idol of productivity was more important than my daughter.

Tim Keller has a great test for exposing the idols of your heart. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What are your daydreams? When you don’t have to think about anything, where does your mind wander? “Your real god is what you do with your solitude.” -Archbishop William Temple
2. Where do your uncontrollable emotions show up? When you are angry, ask yourself “what am I defending?” Feelings of overwhelming fear or despondency are good clues you have an idol.
3. What do you spend your money on most effortlessly? What are you looking to for your security?
4. What are your nightmares? “If this happens, I could never go on.”
5. What unanswered prayer has embittered you toward God? What are your non-negotiable prayer requests? Do you find yourself telling God you will obey Him if…. Your real god is on the other end of that “if.”