Managing Emotions: Honoring God in a World of Feelings

Feelings Make Wonderful Gods

Dear reader,

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your feelings consume you? You are so overwhelmed by your emotions that you are unable to think or act rationally. It is hard to imagine life without emotions. They are part of what makes us human. Emotions can be a source of joy, happiness, and comfort. They can also be a source of pain, sorrow, and confusion. However, what happens when we allow our feelings to control us? When we let our emotions dictate our actions and decisions, we risk making decisions that are not in line with God's will.

As Christians, we need to learn how to manage our emotions and not let them become our gods. In this article, we will explore the role of emotions in our lives, how we can manage them, and what the Bible says about emotions.

The Role of Emotions in Our Lives

Emotions are a natural response to the world around us. They are part of our human experience. God created us with emotions, and they serve a purpose in our lives. Emotions are signals that tell us about the state of our inner world. They can alert us to danger, motivate us to action, and provide comfort and support.

Emotions are not inherently good or bad. They are simply a reflection of our thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. However, our response to our emotions can be either positive or negative. When we allow our emotions to control us, we risk making decisions that are not in line with God's will. We can become consumed by our emotions and forget to seek God's guidance and wisdom.

Managing Our Emotions

As Christians, we are called to manage our emotions in a way that honors God. We need to learn how to recognize our emotions, understand their source, and manage them in a way that aligns with God's will. Here are some practical ways to manage our emotions:

1. Acknowledge Your Emotions

The first step in managing our emotions is to acknowledge them. We need to be honest with ourselves about what we are feeling. We cannot manage our emotions if we are not aware of them. Take some time to reflect on your emotions. Ask yourself what you are feeling and why you are feeling that way.

2. Evaluate Your Thoughts

Our emotions are often a reflection of our thoughts. Negative emotions are often the result of negative thinking. We need to evaluate our thoughts and beliefs and determine if they are in line with God's truth. Are our thoughts based on reality, or are they distorted by fear, anxiety, or worry?

3. Seek God's Guidance

As Christians, we have access to the wisdom and guidance of God. We need to seek God's guidance in managing our emotions. We can do this through prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking the counsel of wise and mature Christians.

4. Take Action

Once we have acknowledged our emotions, evaluated our thoughts, and sought God's guidance, we need to take action. We need to make choices that align with God's will. We need to choose to respond to our emotions in a way that honors God.

What the Bible Says About Emotions

The Bible has much to say about emotions. Here are some verses that speak to the role of emotions in our lives:

• Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."


• Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."


• James 1:19-20 - "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."


• Psalm 42:5 - "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."


• Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

These verses remind us of the importance of guarding our hearts, seeking God's comfort in times of distress, being slow to anger, putting our hope in God, and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit in our lives, including self-control.

Conclusion

As Christians, we need to learn how to manage our emotions in a way that honors God. Emotions are a natural part of our human experience, but we need to be careful not to let them become our gods. We need to acknowledge our emotions, evaluate our thoughts, seek God's guidance, and take action in a way that aligns with God's will. We can take comfort in the fact that God is close to the brokenhearted and will provide us with the wisdom and guidance we need to manage our emotions in a healthy and God-honoring way.

May we always seek to honor God with our emotions, knowing that he is faithful and will provide us with the strength and guidance we need.