Walking With Christ

The immune system in the body is designed to keep poison out of the body. It’s a defense system and learning to understand what the system is saying is one key to staying physically healthy. Emotions are to the mind what the immune system is to the body.

The bible has a lot to say about emotions. David shows a wide range of emotions throughout the Psalms. We see everything from despair to joy. We see doubt and fear. We see evidence of extreme stress. We also see faith, trust, and gratitude. David put a voice to his emotions.

Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.(ESV)

Jesus is another great example of living with emotions. Jesus wept. He felt compassion. He even got angry.

John 2:15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.(ESV)

Understanding and learning to interpret our emotions in light of scripture helps us to use them in a way that honors God. Emotions are not meant to be ignored even if they sometimes have to be suppressed for a time.

The first step is always to recognize and admit what you are feeling honestly and without judgement. Emotions are a natural thing that serve a truly vital purpose in our lives. When we cover the emotions or ignore them instead of seeking the cause then we open ourselves up to future problems or cause existing problems to either become worse or more ingrained in us.

Once we can accept that we feel and acknowledge what those feelings are then we can bring them to God. Emotions are like sin in that God can’t help us with the things we refuse to bring to Him. David poured out all of his deepest emotions before the throne. He gave God his biggest fears and most jarring hurts.

Philippians 4:5-7 (5)Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (6)do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7)And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(ESV)

Seek wisdom. Ask God for what you lack. Ask for guidance through the holy spirit. If needed, don’t be afraid to seek a mental health professional. There are plenty of them out there who are Christian and align their practices with those beliefs.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.(ESV)

Measure your emotional response against the scriptures. The fruit of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 can serve as a guide. Share your burden with fellow Christians who are mature as suggested in Galatians 6:2. We are not meant to carry any burden alone.

Most importantly, let your emotions drive you towards faithful actions and responses. As we see in Ephesians 4:26-27, we can feel the strongest of emotions possible and still choose responses that are righteous and faithfully aligned with God’s will. It’s important to remember that emotions often serve to point out areas that need growth, care and attention. Emotions, especially the negative ones, have the power to alter our behaviors, but with a proper biblical perspective and spirit filled wisdom they won’t become stumbling blocks that keep us from living the best life that God designed for us. There is nothing wrong with experiencing any emotion. Emotions are not sinful by themselves. How we respond to them makes the difference between a sinful or even emotionally scarring memory and a healthy opportunity to grow in faith and love.