In the middle of a College Football Saturday, a controversial Tennis Grand Slam Final stole the headlines…and continues to be discussed.

One of the best athletes we’ve ever seen, Serena Williams, lost to up and coming Naomi Osaka. But, what took place on the court has been secondary to the drama surrounding it.

The chair umpire reprimanded Williams three different times during the match. It started when she received a warning for the illegal signals her coach was giving in the stands. This soon led to her breaking her racket, which resulted in a lost point.

Her anger, passion, and disbelief took over as she headed to the bench and verbally attacked the chair umpire. When Williams called him a thief (for stealing a point from her), he responded with a verbal abuse penalty that cost her a game.

There has been plenty of debate and conversations questioning who was in the wrong, if there were underlying biases toward Williams, and whether or not the penalties were fair. Regardless, emotions clearly got the best of everyone involved.

I take the side that “misguided emotions” created this controversial situation during the US Open Final. Williams was most likely more upset over the way she was playing and mad at herself for losing the lead in the fifth game of the second set, which included double-faulting. That’s the real reason I think she slammed her racket.

She was obviously upset about the penalties she received, but I think her negative emotions were more about the feelings of pressure and competitiveness as she struggled against a very formidable opponent.

I can honestly relate to Serena Williams, as all too often I allow my “misguided emotions” to get the best of me in stressful situations. When a driver pulls out in front of me, I admit to having an unnecessary outburst not because I’m actually mad at the driver, but mad at myself for being late to a meeting.

Of course, the driver doesn’t help matters, but my emotions are a result of something else. I’m just shifting them toward the person in the car who can’t hear me!

We can all allow the stresses of work to cause negative responses at home or vice versa. When we take our anger from something else and direct it toward the wrong person, the negative emotion can cost us “a point” or even “a game” if we allow it to.

However, Proverbs 16:32 (AMP) offers us encouragement to win this challenging battle: “He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], and he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.”

James 1:19-20 (NLT) explains, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Having self-control prevents us from losing it, but we can’t attain that in our own power. As followers of Jesus, we must rely on God’s Holy Spirit within us to help us overcome our anger and frustration.

We must yield to His Spirit so our prideful, human spirit doesn’t allow “misguided emotions” to win. Today, let’s get to the root of why we feel the way we do, release it to God, and ask Him to guide us toward emotions of peace and joy.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for my misguided emotions. I admit I allow anger and frustration to get the best of me. I pray I would yield to the Holy Spirit as I trust You to get me through frustrating circumstances. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.