What a gift you have, the opportunity to love one who is moving you toward maturity and the process of discovering who you are.
Col. 2:2 "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ"
You and I have been given a key that unlocks the greatest adventure. Life.
Every day we wake up to what we don't know. It bumps into us throughout the day. It's good things and bad things, however it's not the bumping that trips us up, it's the thoughts we have when bumped.
Emotions do not dictate how we respond to life when we encounter it, our thinking does. Emotions follow our thoughts.
The reason Jesus could be calm in every situation he encountered is because he knew the truth within the circumstance.
It's our uncertainties that we trip over.
For example, another person’s security in a relationship lies within what you do. However, they connect what you MAY do to what you believe. Jesus said it's not what goes into a person that defiles him, but what comes out. The other person is experiencing you every day. They see what goes in and what comes out. However, they are sabotaging themselves and your relationship. They are filtering their experience with you through a way of thinking. Their thinking is connected to their past, and it's connected to their experiences. This thinking is bringing "strong emotion".
Consider what Paul concludes as he bumps into Gnostics, Judaizers, philosophers, moralists and even weaker brothers.
“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preachChrist crucified" 1 Cor. 1:22-23
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was NOT in step with the TRUTH OFTHE GOSPEL," Gal 2: 11-14
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. Let No One Disqualify You. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or aSabbath. These are a SHADOW of the things to come, but the SUBSTANCE belongs toChrist.” Col 2: 13 - 17
"I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. 4:1
The maturity of 'knowing' and 'understanding' brings into focus what the real issue is. If this is not a reality, then everything will become contentious because distorted thinking creates emotions that drive everything into conflict. Paul is offering the key to stability -know the substance and you will never trip over the shadow!
Your maturity is the process of knowing who Christ is in you. The other person is the gift that is forcing you into that reality.
You know things. Stand on that. Their emotions are not to be the steering wheel of your relationship; your thinking is. However, the way they think is the opportunity for your growth.