When you wake up, the day is gray. You're dragging. At school, things suddenly brighten and life is good. On the way home, a storm kicks up and moisture falls. I could be describing a typical spring day. On the other hand, you may have guessed that I'm describing the ways that your emotions change in a span of a few hours.

Fear of taking that big test starts the day off under a cloud. On your way to your next class, the boy you think you'd like to date winks at you. Suddenly the day sparkles - until you tell your best friend about it on the way home. You have a fight when you discover that she wants to date him, too. You end up in your room mad and crying and wondering what it's all about.

Let's do a reality check, here. Most little girls cry more than most little boys do. However, when you become a young woman, the emotional side seems to take on extreme edges. Not all young women go to the same extremes, but in general, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. That comes from a mixture of personality, the way your family expresses emotions, and the ever-present, always-changing, hormone soup that's inside of you.

Yes, it's true, at different times of the month, your emotions can be on a hair-trigger release.  You may cry/yell/pout/scream/laugh/rant because of something that, at a different time, would cause zero emotional response in you. You may even be embarrassed by your emotions.

Nevertheless, what happens in response to your emotional outbreak can be one of the most important lessons in your life. If the people around you begin to pamper you when you cry, then it is possible that you could learn to manipulate people with your tears. You could become the "Poor Little Thing." If the people around you begin to give you anything you want when you yell and pout, then it is possible that you could learn to manipulate people with your frustration. You could become the "Princess Diva." If the people around you begin to avoid confrontation with you when you scream and rant, then it is possible that you could learn to manipulate people with your anger. You could become the "Rebel."

If you let your emotions control you instead of you learning to control your emotions, life can begin to slide downhill quickly. Sure, you could have a smug feeling of control, but that feeling of control would be a lie.

Instead, live the words of the apostle Paul, "...let us be self-controlled, putting on faith... (1 Thessalonians 5:8) Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers... in faith..."(1 Timothy 4:12, NIV)

It is not enough to learn to control your emotions. That is only one side of the coin. The other side is to learn to trust God - to have faith in Him - to get you safely through the events that your emotions want to control. After all, God made you emotional to enrich your life, not for emotions to control you.

Lynnda Ell has been an active Christian for over 50 years She has three adult daughters and five grandchildren. She has had careers in accounting, direct sales, electrical engineering and writing. She lives and worships in New Orleans, LA. Check out Lynnda's blog.