Thundering Thoughts and Emotional Floods

Recently I struggled with a storm in my head. I’m sure you’ve experienced that. The type of storm where your thoughts are thundering in your head and your emotions flood your whole being. This becomes a cyclone from which it seems impossible to escape.

 In his book, ‘If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat’ John Ortberg says, “In any arena where you are concerned about failure, the single most destructive thing you can do is nothing.”  He then quotes Psychologist David Burns on his cycle of lethargy saying: “When I’m faced with a challenge and do nothing, it leads to distorted thoughts … these in turn lead to destructive emotions … and the whole cycle spirals downward.”

This sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Something happens and your obsessive overthinking takes you into an emotional vortex, spiralling down. As this escalates, your thoughts become so thundering loud, that your own calls to anchor them, become soundless cries in your spirit. Your overwhelming feelings of helpless abandonment in the storm, flood your soul with waves of emotions. If I lost you here, consider yourself blessed indeed. If you can relate, know that you are not the only one trying to ride out a personal storm.

I was fortunate that I was busy with Ortberg’s book, and more so, that I was at chapter 7 (aptly titled “That sinking Feeling”) when I was surprised by my latest cyclone. I was struggling to get out of my thundering thoughts and emotional flood and read: “This is your life. You can’t get out of it. So get into it. Take one step towards trusting God in an area where you feel failure.” This sounded like it would get me even more lost – “you can’t get out, get into it” – and into trouble, in my case?

In this chapter reference is made of the fact that both Elijah and David seeked refuge in caves when they were fearing for their lives. Now I realise, being pursued by an enemy who is set on killing you, would leave you exhausted and scared in ways that I can’t imagine. While hiding in the cave, David wrote Psalm 142:6 – “Attend to my loud cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.” Reading this verse, I realised that this is probably something I should “get into” a bit deeper. What does this verse say to me in my “soul cyclone”? I am crying out like David and I understand “being brought very low”. The vortex was taking me lower by the minute, as emotions hit me, wave after crashing wave.

Who are these persecutors of mine that are stronger than I? To fight an enemy, I should at least identify them. I paged back to Psalm 139:5 which I noticed I previously underlined. “You have beset me and shut me in – behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me”. This sounds like David was feeling very safe. But how was this helping me in my storm? I started reading Psalm 139 from the beginning.

Have you ever had thoughts that you felt you should stop thinking, because they were ridiculous? Or perhaps if you ignored them, they might go away?  Or perhaps you could think them, as long as you didn’t act on them? Or perhaps you could ask God what to do about it? Seriously? Talk to God about THIS?  Yes, you can speak to God, even about THIS. David writes in Psalm 139 something like this. *Make sure you go and read the whole chapter as I’m paraphrasing.

* You know me. You understand my thoughts. You see me when I go out and when I lie down. You know all my ways. You know them completely. If I make my bed in the place of the dead, You are there. If I am in the furthest parts of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me. Your right hand will hold me. Even the darkness hides nothing from You. For You formed my inner world; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

By now I realised that my storm was an attack. The enemies that I could not overcome by myself were my thoughts and emotions. The onslaught was real and it was affecting my mental wellness, my mood and energy levels, my communication and my relationships with the people closest to me. Like Elijah and David, I could benefit from the protection of a cave. In my case, I needed a battle plan, to prepare for action. I had to figure out how to take my thoughts captive. Remember Ortberg saying that the single most destructive thing you could do is NOTHING? There’s been too much destruction already. I will not get caught doing NOTHING.  

 Did you know that Jesus had some cave time too? Ortberg reminds us that the body of Jesus was placed in a cave after the crucifixion. Then he says this: “God does some of His best work in caves. The cave is where God resurrects dead things”. Isn’t this the best news ever? My cave time and your cave time can lead to restoration and new life. I’m getting God in as advisor on my battle plan. My view is obstructed. He sees everything and will know how I need to set my compass to get out of any raging storm.

“Lord – How could I imagine that You don’t know what I’m thinking. You know exactly why I have these raging thoughts. You know even better than I, why they flood me with emotions. You created my inner world, the way I perceive, think and feel. You know my dreams and desires. You know the origin of this storm and there is nothing that I can say or do that would surprise You. You know, Lord, that I need Your help to take these thoughts captive. To explore them with Your wisdom and discernment. Dear Lord, resurrect the truth about what I’m flooded with, so that the lies can die down. Please touch my broken places with Your love and bring healing as protection. Still my mind and heart so that I can hear Your whispers again, so that I can plot my course with You. Let this be for Your glory, Father. In the name of Jesus. Amen”

  I was listening to my worship playlist. And Hillsong’s “Still” started playing:

“Hide me now under Your wings

Cover me within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunder roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still – know You are God“

Yes! When my emotions rise and thoughts roar, I will soar with You above the storm. Father, You are King over my floods. I will be still – know You are God

Amen

Lynette Gerber-Lochenkov

July 2025