Emotions

Today, we’re diving into a topic that we all deal with every day: Emotions. They’re a big part of being human, aren’t they? Sometimes we’re up, sometimes we’re down, and sometimes we’re not sure where we are! But our emotions are a gift from God—He designed us to feel things deeply, but we also have to be careful not to let our emotions control us.

You know, the Bible has a lot to say about emotions. Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” It’s a reminder that while our feelings are real and valid, we don’t have to let them rule our actions. Today, we’re going to talk about how to manage our emotions in a way that honors God and leads to peace and joy in our lives.

Let’s start by talking about why emotions are so important. Emotions can tell us a lot about ourselves; they can point to what we value, what we fear, or even where we need healing. But they can also be tricky. If we aren’t careful, our emotions can lead us in the wrong direction, especially when we react out of anger, fear, or sadness without pausing to think.

I used to let my emotions kind of dictate my thoughts and actions. It took a lot of repetitive mistakes to understand this. Once God gave me this realization it took a lot praying and unlearning to know that I needed to rely on God and not how I felt about things. I still feel things deeply but now I have a process of going to God, praying and asking myself the question of why I feel this way and what triggered that feeling.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” This verse reminds us that emotions are a natural and normal part of life.

It’s okay to feel deeply. The key is understanding that while emotions are a gift, they aren’t always reliable guides. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by our emotions, but the good news is that God gives us wisdom to help manage them.

So, no matter what you are feeling we need to ask God to help us understand what you’re feeling and how to respond in a healthy, godly way.

When it comes to managing our emotions, one of the most powerful things we can do is turn to God for help. Psalm 34:17-18 says, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Isn’t that comforting? When we’re feeling overwhelmed, we don’t have to handle it alone. God is with us, and He’s ready to help.

One of the best ways to manage your emotions is through prayer. When you feel anger rising or anxiety creeping in, take a deep breath and bring it to God. In fact, when I feel this way, I pray and ask the God to give me peace and for Satan to leave and that my trust is in the Lord, and I will not give in to what the enemy is trying to do. Let the Lord calm your heart.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” That peace is real! When we invite God into our emotions, He helps us find balance. Prayer doesn’t mean we’ll never feel angry or sad again, but it does give us the strength to handle our emotions in a way that brings peace, not chaos.

We’ve talked about understanding our emotions and asking God for help in managing them, but what does it look like to respond to our emotions in a godly way? It’s important to remember that emotions themselves aren’t sinful, it’s how we act on them that matters.

In Ephesians 4:26, we’re given this advice: “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” It’s okay to feel angry, but we have to be careful not to let that anger control us. The same goes for other emotions like fear, sadness, or even excitement. We need to make sure our emotions don’t lead us to make decisions we’ll regret later.

Responding to our emotions in a godly way often means taking a pause—giving ourselves a moment to process what we’re feeling before we act. Whether that’s taking a deep breath, praying, or talking to someone you trust, those pauses can help us respond with wisdom instead of reacting out of raw emotion.

James 1:19 gives us great advice: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” That’s a reminder to take our time, even to pause, especially when emotions are running high. We need to be careful to react and be more willing to take a moment then come back to what the issue is with a clearer heart and mind.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the gift of emotions. They’re an important part of who we are and how we experience life. Whether we’re feeling joy, sadness, excitement, or frustration, God can help us understand and manage those feelings in a way that brings peace and honors Him.

God knows our hearts better than anyone. He’s there to help us with our emotions, guiding us in wisdom and love.