Self Control when stressed

Snickers has recently run a series of commercials with the tagline "You're not yourself when you're hungry, Grab a Snickers".  The commercials put celebrities like Betty White trash talking during a pickup football game.  The term "hangry" has also become part of the popular vernacular, being a combination of hungry and angry.  

Something happens to the human brain when it's hungry or tired or stressed.  Rational thinking can tend to fly out the window.  Our reactions can be overblown and we tend to make rash decisions in an effort to escape the situation or satisfy our needs.  This "flooding" of emotion can often lead to the downfall of the person.  Let's look at a few examples.  

Esau - In Genesis 25:29-31 Esau comes in from the field tired and hungry, a dangerous condition to be in.  He asks for some stew from Jacob who in turn offers a bowl of stew in exchange for his inheritance.  Esau relents and swore his birthright to Jacob.  This little story is a clear warning for us to cherish our heavenly birthrights above any earthly need or pleasure.  

David - In 1 Samuel 25:1-44, David is in the wilderness with his men.  David had made sure that his men had acted rightly and not taken anything from Nabals flocks.  He sent men to ask for some provisions but Nabal insulted both David and the men.  David's reaction (we can deduce that he was hungry and stressed) was to destroy every man in the household of Nabal.  Might be a little bit of an overreaction, yet also understandable.  Only by God's restraining grace through Abigail was the slaughter averted, and as Abigail rightly points out David didn't need murder on his conscience due to his anger.  

Jesus - In Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by Satan.  If there was ever I time that someone is most vulnerable to temptation it's when they are starving.  But the Lord showed through his example and the hope set before Him that temptation can be overcome through the Spirit.  That we, his children have that same power to defeat earthly desires no matter how dire the situation.  When we fix our eyes on heaven and call on the Lord for help He is faithful to provide what we need to keep from sinning.