Emotions

Are you thankful that you’re able to experience pain, happiness, sadness, and concern for others, or fondness, freedom, peace and love – all of those emotions?

In one of his books, C.S. Lewis describes how a sunset evokes a certain emotion or reaction.  He says, “Somehow, we find that everything seems to stir something in our soul.” 

Recently, the last several months, I’ve felt that way.  With some health issues, my emotions have been close to the surface.  But as they pass I’ve realized what a blessing they are. 

Feelings and emotions began with God’s original design for man. He made us in his own image.  He designed us so that mountains would enchant us, or a blue sky might calm us, a baby might make us feel protective, or a child’s question would make us laugh. He designed us so that injustice would make us angry, and another person’s pain would give us feelings of compassion.

When we consider that God created us in His image, we can be certain that God has emotions as well. 

There are two wonderful things concerning God and emotions:

First, He understands our emotions (since He created us with the capacity to feel them),

And, second, His own emotions are perfect, because He is perfect.

The Bible has many references to God’s emotions.  Here are a few – there are many more

Anger – Wrath

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Compassion 

Psalm 135:14 -  For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. 

Grief

Luke 19:41  As He (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

Love

Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep his commandments.

Joy

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you: in his love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.    

I love that!  God takes delight in us and I’m convinced that it’s okay to be happy.  Following Christ should not give us permanent sober faces – I don’t believe for a minute that Jesus was always grim. 

As we read the gospels – if we were to try to visualize Jesus standing there – there are times that we’d likely see a smile on his face, or even a grin.  For instance, when he was talking about John the Baptist.  He said to the people, “Hey what did you come out to see (when you were looking for John,) a reed shaking in the wind?  In other words, did you think this guy in the animal skins, eating locust, would be a weakling?  No, if you came looking for a prophet – that’s what he was, and more than that. 

On the other hand, it’s okay to be unhappy as well.  Jesus was.  Remember He wept, He was angry, He sweat drops of blood – there were so many unhappy times for our Savior.

When we have a tragedy in our lives or when things aren’t going well, it’s okay to be NOT okay. 

When - if you're like me, the emotions are vivid, you might say to yourself , “It’s alright.  Be strong.  Look on the bright side.”  

But that doesn’t always work and sometimes you just want to cry, “There is NO bright side” don’t you?

But then the Holy Spirit says, “Go to your Father and let him handle what you’re unable to handle alone.”  That’s the way of children, and I am God’s child.

God has plans for your emotions.  He is totally okay with how you feel and the amount of feeling you feel.  And He has a plan for all that. 

One plan is that we be thankful that we have feelings at all.

Another is that we bring the feelings to God in total honesty. 

If your feelings are negative, take them to God.

If your feelings are positive, take them to God.

Because the truth is that all of them were created by Him – we just sometimes mess with them and turn them up-side-down.

God has given you power, love and self-control in order to deal with your emotions.  Remember that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of self-control, it means we can control our emotions. God's power lives inside of us.

2 Timothy 1:7 (GNT) For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.





And God is really okay with weakness – because that’s where his power shines through.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I pray that this little rambling may be helpful to you.today.  Remember your Father loves you!