Emotions

Mark 6:34 (KJV) Says, "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." Genesis 6:6 (KJV) Says, "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and it grieved him at his heart." Matthew 14:14 (KJV) Says, "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." Ephesians 4:26 (KJV) Says, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath:" Mark 3:5 (KJV) Says, "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other." John 11:33-35 Says, "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the Spirit, and was troubled. And said, where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept."

God created human beings with the ability to feel, and experience various emotions. He is, therefore, well aware that we have emotions, and he is in no way upset with us when we express them; as long as we do so in a righteous manner. Jesus himself being sinless and perfect, while here on earth in the flesh, experienced several emotions, and many examples of this are documented in the Word of God. If we as Christians hide our emotions and behave as though we don't feel then we are not being honest with ourselves or those who witness our stoic behavior. If we hope to reach others with the gospel, we must be transparent and openly express our emotions; albeit always in a righteous manner. If we fail to demonstrate that we experience emotions or have feelings we come across as cold and robotic. We can give lost people the impression that it is not okay to have feelings which makes being a Christian appear too difficult and legalistic; prompting them to want no part of Christianity.

In the first verse of scripture used above, Jesus was moved with compassion, and that is an emotion. In the above verse taken from Genesis, We see that the Lord was grieved in his heart, and grief too is an emotion. In the above verse taken from Matthew we see that Jesus was moved with compassion toward a great multitude of people which is again an emotional feeling. In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Ephesians we see that we are permitted to be angry, but we are instructed not to commit sin in our anger. Having righteous indignation toward a situation or an individual is to be angry at the right person or situation, at the right time, and to handle our anger in a Christ-like manner. In Mark 3:5 we see that Jesus looked around at a group of people with anger and that he was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts. We see in the last passage of scripture listed above which was taken from the book of John that when Jesus saw Mary, and the Jews who came out to meet him weeping, he began to weep with them. Mary and the people were grieving the death of Lazarus who was Mary and Martha's brother. Jesus counted Mary, Martha, and Lazarus among his friends. Here Jesus demonstrates by weeping that he felt compassion for Mary, Martha, and all those who came weeping over the loss of Lazarus. Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, but he felt a compassion toward all those who were weeping and mourning because they were experiencing great pain secondary to a loved one passing away. They had no idea at that moment Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. In Matthew 21:12-13 (KJV) Jesus is angry at the moneychangers in the temple of God, and he turns over their tables and seats.

These a just a few examples of feelings and emotions being expressed by Jesus himself, and there are others given in God's Word. In short, having emotions and actually feeling are perfectly normal. The manner in which we walk through those emotions, and how we handle them, as Christians, is where we see a difference. For example, if someone hurts you and it makes you sad by all means cry, if you need to. Then pray for them and forgive them. If you are mourning the loss of someone you love, by all means cry, Jesus did. When my father passed away it devastated me because I loved him tremendously, and I cried profusely. The difference was that as my twin sister and I were standing at his casket, I was able to say to her that I recognized the only way we were able to stand there and look down on our Daddy was because we had God holding our hand. If you get angry at someone or something that too is normal as long as you are angry at the right person or situation for the right reason, and you handle it in the right way. Don't curse someone out, but rather address the situation or person in a Christlike manner in an attempt to resolve the issue. If you are angry respond in lieu of reacting. Pray about the situation or for the person, and God will place on your heart how he desires for you to respond. Sometimes the best response is silence.

Never deny yourself the right to feel a healthy emotion. Suppressing our feelings is both physically and mentally damaging. Feelings will surface one way or another if we hold them back; whether in a physical manifestation such as high blood pressure or in a mental manifestation such as depression. Take all of your problems to God in prayer, and leave them there. There is no problem to great for him to handle, and he loves you tremendously. Remember this, however, it is normal and necessary to feel and to express emotions. If we internalize our feelings then we are headed for trouble, and we are not demonstrating to the lost that we are human beings who experience sadness, grief, love, compassion, anger, and other emotions just as they do. In short, don't beat yourself up for having feelings and emotions because without them you wouldn't be capable of having compassion and love for others nor would you be able to grieve with those who grieve or rejoice with those who rejoice as the Word of God instructs us to do.

I encourage you to remember the next time you experience anger, grief, pain, sadness, or any other emotion that God is not only walking through your storm with you, but he is holding your right hand. I further encourage you to remember to praise and thank God when things are going well for you, and when you are walking through a storm. I urge you to pray about all things, and to remind yourself that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. Finally, remember that love is in and of itself an emotion, and God is love.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!