Let’s begin with a basic tenet of Christian belief—we are not to live by our feelings. What that means is we are not to acquiesce to the ups and downs of our emotions. Those feelings “just are”.
On the other hand, the hard emotions—particularly anger—are a different story. Likely no mistake this one is mentioned over 250 times in Scripture. Also referred to numerous times? Hatred and hate.
Emotions can be messy. The messy part may occur when we express them with little or no regard for how they will impact those around us. If acted upon apart from love and compassion, we can wreak destruction on people and things, even ourselves. At the same time, suppression is not a wise alternative. Shove them down and sooner or later they will erupt at a most inopportune moment.
One of the first things we need to settle if we hope to live “with” our emotions and feelings—all of them—is to remember they are a gift from God. On one level that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Anger? What for? Hate? How could that ever serve a loving purpose?
The reality is this—much good has been accomplished when feelings and emotions have been wielded in love.
A few examples . . .
Many pro-life folks take up the cause when they realize their hatred for the sin of abortion.
Some individuals directly impacted by the ugliness of racism use their anger as motivation to engage in peaceful activism to bring people together.
Confronted with the horrors of the current war in Ukraine, many people have been motivated by sadness and anger to give of their time, resources, and energy to help the hundreds of thousands whose lives have been turned upside down.
While we can reason, rationalize, or justify our way through our feelings and emotions, to submit them to God opens the door of our heart and mind to the ways He alone can work through them for good. Sometimes that simply means we are best advised to acknowledge the feeling, accept that it has stirred within us, and then let it quietly dissipate. In other circumstances God may nudge us to reach out to another person, give voice to the feeling so He may heal our wounds, or He may use the intensity of what we feel as fuel to learn more about a specific cause or interest so we can pray or advocate for those in need of love and compassion.
Important points:
Feelings and emotions in and of themselves are not evil or wrong. It is helpful, and healthy, to acknowledge them rather than try to suppress them.
Feelings and emotions are an indication of something being stirred within us. When we allow the Spirit to lead and guide us in the context of prayer or meditation, they provide us with information and insight that may lead to healing, or clarity for the next step.
As we learn to live with our feelings and emotions through healthy self-discipline, we enjoy the fullness of being—being alive, being creatures created in the image and likeness of God.
Feelings can seem to pop up without notice, on other occasions they may manifest after a long season of being hidden. While this can be unsettling or disorienting, our emotions are not beyond or outside the purview of God to be used for good.
How do I feel about my feelings?
Do I believe God can work through all of them, even the hard emotions?
Can I submit my feelings to God, trusting He will all to good?
