
Emotions are a beautiful gift from God, but if left unchecked, they can lead us astray. The Bible offers so much wisdom about handling our feelings in a way that honors God and brings peace to our lives. Let’s explore what God’s Word says about managing our emotions.
Proverbs 25:28 says, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”
Dealing with our emotions can be challenging. As we are being refined by God and learning how to manage them, we can become overwhelmed. This has happened to me many times. I’ve thought I was gaining clarity about why I felt a certain way and finding closure, only to be triggered again in a completely different way by the same emotions. It was as if God was saying, “I know you think you have your emotions under control, but you don’t. So, I’m going to let you walk through this again until you realize that I am the one you need to turn to for help and guidance.”
In that refinement process, I reflected on the emotions I was struggling with and committed to seeking the Lord for help. I continue to walk through this same refinement today to stay aligned with Him.I want to encourage you to take steps of reflection and commit to God to help you manage your emotions.
Recognizing and understanding our emotions is so important. Once we realize that our emotions are actually given to us by God, we can see and understand them from a new perspective.
Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.’”
If we are made in the image of God, then all of who we are comes from Him. In the Bible, we see the emotions of God and Jesus. The difference between them and us is that they have perfect control over their emotions and can regulate their actions and reactions. Like Jesus, we experience joy, sadness, and anger, but He is able to quickly identify why He feels the way He does and then respond appropriately. We, however, often react to our feelings before identifying their source.
The best way to maintain control of our emotions is by guarding our hearts. The Bible directs us to do this in Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
This scripture teaches and guides us on many levels, but one of the biggest lessons is about emotions. When we let our emotions guide us, they can overtake our minds, and our hearts become so deeply involved that how we feel begins to control everything. We need to make sure we are filtering our emotions through God’s Word and allowing the truths in the Bible to help us respond wisely.
Pause before reacting, and ask God to help you discern your thoughts and feelings so you can honor Him with your words and actions.
Our knee-jerk reactions often get us caught up in conversations and situations we later regret.
James 1:19 says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
I can’t count how many times I’ve said and done things I didn’t mean because I acted on impulse before thinking everything through. You can’t always undo those actions, and they can leave others with a perception of you that you never intended. Understand what triggers your strong emotions, and remember that being self-aware is key to emotional management.
When seeking to make changes in our character, we can look to Galatians 5:22-23 for guidance: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
The Holy Spirit empowers us to manage our emotions and become more like Jesus. When we focus on refining who we are by cultivating the fruits of the Spirit, we are taking steps to be more like Christ. Let’s pray daily for the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things, including managing our emotions and reactions.
Let’s turn to God’s Word when we experience big emotions. I know that when unexpected changes come, I sometimes let my emotions take over without even thinking. It’s not pretty. Then I feel guilty and think about Proverbs 18:21, which says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
I’ve seen this in action—a kind word makes all the difference in a situation.
Keep in mind that words spoken in emotional moments have lasting impacts. Be sure to think before you speak, and try your best to speak words of life that encourage others and reflect God’s love.
Trust God with your emotions. Surrender them to Him and allow Him to bring healing, clarity, and freedom to your life.
Emotions are a powerful part of who we are, but they are not meant to control us. With God’s help, we can learn to manage our feelings in ways that bring peace, healing, and joy. When we surrender our emotions to God, He transforms them into tools for His glory.
Go into today with the confidence that God is with you, helping you manage your emotions and live in His peace.