#2: The Gift of Emotion
As we continue with number two in our countdown, I want to offer a little piece of encouragement and advice regarding emotion. Emotion is something that we can all relate to when it comes to our day-to-day struggles. Sometimes, it is subtle and confusing while other times it is bombarding and overwhelming. We tend to view these inward battles with emotion as a negative thing, but with the help of the Lord, you can see something more in your emotions. The following paragraphs are an excerpt from my book project, Boundless: Discovering God in Your Eating Disorder.
God Himself has powerful emotions. He is angered by the injustice in the world, saddened by the hurt of His children, and overjoyed at the salvation of a soul. As humans created in the image of God, we have the gift of an emotional sensitivity just like His. To experience emotion is not sinful, nor is it a curse to be emotional. There is no need to withhold your emotions from God or push then into the back of your heart. You don't need to deny or ignore them, but pour them out to the one who gave them to you in the first place. Your emotions are a gift from God, a gift that draws you closest to Him in your weakest moments.
An emotion in and of itself is not bad. What you choose to do with that emotion is what makes the difference. Anger, despair, or stress can lead you to sin, but they do not have to. Your emotions can be harmful if they lead you to wrong thinking and actions, but they can also be a blessing when they inspire you to seek God. When you are feeling depressed, do not beat yourself up for feeling sad, but seek refuge in the arms of love. If you feel bitter, do not allow bitterness to damage your relationships, but go to God and let Him hold you. Feelings of timidity, exhaustion, stress, or abandonment will leave you desperate for a peace and comfort that only God can give, so run to Him and accept it. Our complex emotions actually have the potential to draw us closer to the heart of the Lord because they lead us to depend on Him when no one else understands. God gave us emotions so that He could satisfy them. Without emotions, we would have no need to seek refuge in the arms of our Abba Father.
...Instead of letting your emotions overwhelm you, let them draw you into the loving arms of the Lord. After all, He created you with emotions so that you would run to Him with every need.
God Himself has powerful emotions. He is angered by the injustice in the world, saddened by the hurt of His children, and overjoyed at the salvation of a soul. As humans created in the image of God, we have the gift of an emotional sensitivity just like His. To experience emotion is not sinful, nor is it a curse to be emotional. There is no need to withhold your emotions from God or push then into the back of your heart. You don't need to deny or ignore them, but pour them out to the one who gave them to you in the first place. Your emotions are a gift from God, a gift that draws you closest to Him in your weakest moments.
An emotion in and of itself is not bad. What you choose to do with that emotion is what makes the difference. Anger, despair, or stress can lead you to sin, but they do not have to. Your emotions can be harmful if they lead you to wrong thinking and actions, but they can also be a blessing when they inspire you to seek God. When you are feeling depressed, do not beat yourself up for feeling sad, but seek refuge in the arms of love. If you feel bitter, do not allow bitterness to damage your relationships, but go to God and let Him hold you. Feelings of timidity, exhaustion, stress, or abandonment will leave you desperate for a peace and comfort that only God can give, so run to Him and accept it. Our complex emotions actually have the potential to draw us closer to the heart of the Lord because they lead us to depend on Him when no one else understands. God gave us emotions so that He could satisfy them. Without emotions, we would have no need to seek refuge in the arms of our Abba Father.
...Instead of letting your emotions overwhelm you, let them draw you into the loving arms of the Lord. After all, He created you with emotions so that you would run to Him with every need.
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