How to Avoid Being Infected by the Overreactions of Others

May 10

May 10 How to Avoid Being Infected by the Overreactions of Others

Proverbs Devo, God's Word, Personal Faith, Wisdom

Opinions and Overreactions

We live in a world of overreactions. At least, that’s my general observation. Overreacting is not a recent phenomenon. It’s as ancient as humanity. I mean, did Cain really need to slay his brother Abel because his offering didn’t make the grade with God?

But social media platforms, the news media, and the internet provide an environment for people’s overreactions to become super-heated. The volatility and vitriol spewed out in public view are shocking. Well, it used to be, but now it seems the norm. I find myself wanting to say, “Ok, everybody…take a deep breath and let’s calm down.” But sadly, there would be reactions and overreactions to that too.

Unfortunately, social media platforms provide an immediately accessible means to express opinions and overreactions to those opinions. In fact, it’s encouraged and thrives on this. It is an outlet for people who might be too timid to say things in other settings. This isn’t an indictment of social media, just an observation.

I’m not on social media too often or for too long, but I appreciate its benefits. I’ve made and maintained connections with people I’ve never met in person, and people I haven’t been with in quite some time. I also post my writing online via social posts. So, social media platforms are useful in some positive ways.

But what about all the abusive overreactions that seem to flood social media? How should a Christian believer handle those? Respond? Ignore? Block? Is it even possible to be a positive influence in what seems like a sea of mud?

I have a pastor friend who posts the text of 2 Timothy 2:23 every day on Twitter, and I try to retweet it every day. Another online pastor friend wrote a book on navigating divisiveness on social media. There are several places in Proverbs that are also helpful with how not to overreact on social media and in daily life. Here are a few applicable verses from Chapter 22 below.

Scripture

Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave.
Quarreling and abuse will stop.
Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead,
or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself. (Proverbs 22:10, 24-25 GW)
(Context— (Proverbs 22:1-29 GW)

Proverbs 22

Simple insights

At first glance, these verses seem to be admonitions to take action to exclude those who mock and have anger issues. An immediate solution is to eliminate the problem. That’s one way to resolve things. But I see something deeper to consider.

What drives the mocker to mock and causes anger to boil in a person? Why is the influence of the mocker and the person with anger issues so infectious? These are two different concerns.

First, the influence of those who mock and those with anger issues is infectious. It either pulls us along with its force of emotion or stirs us to react. The longer we’re exposed to such influences, the more likely we are to be infected by them. This is the warning given—…you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself (vs 25).

Sometimes, the only solution is to exclude the one who stirs up strife, arguments, and abuse. When one person influences a group in a destructive way and refuses to change their ways—the good of the whole becomes more important. This is true for a sports team, a work environment, and within a church community or small group. It can be a drastic step to take, but a necessity.

But what if you and I are the mockers or the ones with habitual anger issues? What can we do about it? Especially when we see our influence corrupting others and others exclude us because of these problems.

This goes back to the question of what drives the mocker or what stirs up the boiling cauldron of rage. There are a myriad of reasons, but the means to resolve these problems are pretty basic. It requires some honest soul-searching. We need to ask ourselves some hard questions like—Why am I so angry about this? Why do I feel compelled to blurt things out?

Honest questions like these should lead us to search our hearts with the Lord’s help. This requires honest prayer, reflection, and a willingness to change. As we begin to understand the core issue—we need to commit to pursuing change.

When I realize what needs to change, I know I need help to do so. My go-to’s are honest prayer, positive and corrective truth from God’s Word, and God’s guidance and grace.

At the heart of it all—at least my heart—is the need for self-control. I’m intrigued by and thankful that self-control is a fruit of God’s Spirit living in me (Gal 5:23). I’m also glad Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding (praying) on my behalf (Rom 8:27, 34).

When I rely on the Holy Spirit and am grounded in the truth of God’s Word, I can reach out to the Lord with confidence in prayer. When I commit to this, I can avoid the infection of overreaction. So it comes down to this—self-control with the help of God.

Reflection—

Honest questions can lead us to search our hearts with the Lord’s help. Honest prayer and reflection can lead to a willingness to change. When we begin to understand what needs to change and consciously move towards making it, we need to rely on the Lord’s help.

Prayer Focus—

When you pursue significant change in your life, be honest with God in prayer and be open to God’s Spirit working in your life. Remember, as a believer—the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already praying for you.

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