You might wonder why I’m writing to you about emotions. After all, aren’t feelings supposed to be unreliable and not to be trusted, especially the negative ones? If you’re like me, you might have grown up hearing that you should “slap a smile on and suck it up.” But what if I told you that understanding and embracing your emotions could lead you to a deeper relationship with God and a more fulfilling spiritual life? What if you gave yourself permission to feel?
In our recent sermon series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, we explored the idea that to truly know God, we must first know ourselves. This means shedding our false images and understanding our true emotions. Today, I want to give you permission to feel—just like your pet does. Yes, you read that right. Our pets can teach us a lot about showing our emotions openly and honestly.
The Connection Between You and Your Emotions
Have you ever noticed how dogs and their owners often look alike or share similar personalities? Studies have shown that this isn’t just a coincidence. We tend to choose pets that reflect our own traits, not just physical but even personality and emotions, because it’s comforting and familiar. This phenomenon isn’t limited to our pets; it extends to our relationships with people and even our own self-perception.
Just as we see reflections of ourselves in our pets, our emotions reflect our true selves. Understanding this connection is crucial for our journey towards emotionally healthy spirituality. When we deny our pain, losses, and feelings year after year, we become less and less human. We transform into empty shells with smiley faces painted on them. But when we allow ourselves to feel a wider range of emotions, including sadness, depression, fear, and anger, a revolution in our spirituality is unleashed.
Why Emotions Matter
You might be wondering, “Why should I care about my emotions?” The answer is simple: God cares about your emotions. Scripture reveals God as an emotional being who feels. Having been created in His image, we too have the gift of experiencing emotions. In Genesis, God looks at all He created and delighted in it, saying it was very good. Before the flood, He regretted what He made, and His heart was deeply troubled. Through the prophets, we see God as jealous for His people, showing righteous anger and compassion.
In Jesus’ life, we see Him experiencing a range of emotions. Matthew 26:37-38, Jesus says, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” And Mark 3:5, He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. And in John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” These examples show us that emotions are not only natural but also a vital part of our spiritual journey.
How to Embrace Your Emotions
So, how can you start embracing your emotions? Here are a few practical steps:
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: Take a moment to pause and identify what you’re feeling. Whether it’s joy, sadness, anger, or fear, acknowledging your emotions is the first step towards understanding them.
2. Reflect on Your Emotions: Ask yourself why you’re feeling a certain way. What triggered this emotion? What is it trying to tell you about your current situation or your relationship with God?
3. Express Your Emotions: Find healthy ways to express your feelings. This could be through prayer, journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or even spending time with your pet.
4. Seek God’s Guidance: Bring your emotions to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you understand and navigate your feelings. Remember, God created you with the ability to feel, and He wants to walk with you through every emotion.
Books I Enjoyed on this Topic
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality – Peter Scazzero
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship – Peter Scazzero
Permission to Feel – Marc Brackett
(Amazon Affiliate links)
Permission to Feel
The point is, Jesus wants your whole heart, and that includes your emotions. What will you do this week to give Him your heart? Will you take a moment to pause and acknowledge your feelings? Will you reflect on what your emotions are telling you about your life and your relationship with God?
If you don’t take this step, you might miss out on the deeper, more fulfilling spiritual life that Jesus wants for you. So, give yourself permission to feel. It’s okay to feel negative emotions, positive emotions, or even neutral ones. Consider what your feelings are telling you about your life and your walk with God.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for creating us with the ability to feel. Help us to understand and embrace our emotions as a pathway to knowing You better. Guide us in acknowledging, reflecting on, and expressing our feelings in healthy ways. May our emotions draw us closer to You and help us grow in our spiritual journey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.