Emotions, what are you feeling today?

Written By: Richie L


We have all experienced the gamut of emotions that exist at one point in our lives. We all feel sad, happy, angry, scared, disappointed, loved, proud, anxious, hurt… etc. Emotions are a normal part of life. The Bible teaches that emotions, both positive and negative, are gifts from God. We were not made to maintain the same emotional expressions at all times throughout life.  Life would become very dull without emotions. Imagine watching your children grow up without any emotion, or walking down the aisle with your spouse without feeling anything.  Could you stand over the open grave of your friend and feel nothing?

Even God experienced emotions.  He feels anger, joy, love, and compassion, for God created all things, and emotions are part of that.  

"Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." (Jeremiah 31:3 NLT)
"The LORD saw this and drew back, provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters." (Deuteronomy 32:19 NLT)

There are many passages throughout the Bible where God expresses strong emotions toward His people. Jesus wept at Lazarus's death, rejoiced over repentant sinners, and felt sorrow and anguish at his coming death. We were constructed in the image of God, so a part of that means that we will experience all the emotions that God created, making us emotional creatures.


Many times we have trouble controlling the emotions we are experiencing, both positive and negative. We become fearful and afraid of negative emotions, and sometimes we seek positive emotions when we should not, and in ways that offend God or someone else. We can't let our emotions control us.
"You are a slave to whatever controls you." (2 Peter 2:19 NLT)
If we allow our emotions to direct our steps, we are letting them control us, giving them power, and becoming slaves to those feelings. This will lead us to make poor decisions in life, leading to suffering for ourselves or those around us.


We must make it a point to know the difference between negative feelings and negative actions. Emotions will usually prompt us to taking some form of action. If we are afraid we may turn and run, or stop from proceeding toward what God has planned for us.  Maybe we seek feelings of happiness and joy and pursue it in the form of drugs, sex or other avenues of sin.  We don't choose the emotions we experience at a given time, however we do have control over our actions! We do not need to let our emotions control us. We must let emotions remain valuable tools, however not our masters.

Regardless of our feelings or emotions, one thing will always remain constant, and that is Jesus.  If we are able to anchor ourselves to Jesus, we will be secure in the storms that come.  We will remain in control if we can cling to Him and his teachings, despite the ups and downs of our feelings. How was Jesus able to keep his emotions in check and not let them control Him?  Prayer. Before his betrayal by Judas and the coming crucifixion, Jesus went into prayer as written in Matthew 26: 36-46. While in the garden of Gethsemane, knowing the events that were about to unfold before and unto Him, Jesus took time to pray to God.  He did this, not just once, but three times. He was teaching us where to turn when we are consumed by our emotions, and that is toward God.  So let us follow, and live in the freedom of God's will, using prayer as our weapon and Jesus as our guide.