Emotions
Have you ever felt like your emotions are a spiritual rollercoaster? The truth is, God designed our emotions as a beautiful, intricate way of understanding ourselves and connecting with Him. This past year has been a journey of the heart – a landscape painted with vibrant hues of joy, deep shadows of grief, unexpected moments of peace, and raw, vulnerable experiences that have shaped your spiritual walk. Today, we want to sit with the emotions we’ve felt and experienced over the past twelve months:
Psalm 34:18
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Think about Jesus – the ultimate example of emotional authenticity. He wasn't a stoic figure disconnected from feelings but a compassionate Savior who fully embraced human emotions. He wept for His friends, felt deep compassion for the hurting, experienced righteous anger, and showed us that emotions are not a weakness, but a profound gift from God. Take a moment to reflect on your emotional journey. Where did you feel emotionally drained this year? Maybe it was a season of workplace stress, family challenges, or personal struggles that left you feeling exhausted. But where did you also discover unexpected strength? Those moments of resilience are often God's gentle whispers of grace, reminding you of His constant presence.
Your emotions are like a spiritual compass, pointing to deeper truths about your heart. They're not something to be feared or suppressed, but invitations to draw closer to God. Are there recurring feelings of anxiety that might be revealing unresolved fears? Moments of persistent joy that showcase God's faithfulness? Waves of grief that need healing? Each emotion carries a spiritual message. They're not just random feelings, but sacred indicators of your inner landscape. God sees your heart – every tear, every laugh, every moment of uncertainty. He invites you to bring these emotions to Him, to process them in His loving presence, and to grow deeper in understanding both yourself and His incredible love.
Now, take some time to reflect on all the emotions felt over the past year, both the positive and negative. Think of the questions below as prompts to get you started. Don’t feel the pressure to answer every one, but challenge yourself to feel the emotions that occupied your mind, heart and soul.
How have your emotions informed or challenged your spiritual journey over the past year? What emotional patterns have you noticed repeating themselves?
Where did you discover unexpected emotional resilience, and how do you see God's strength and faitfhfulness in those moments?
Describe moments when you felt closest to God emotionally. What characterized those experiences?
Where did you struggle with emotional vulnerability in your relationships with God and others?
Rather than rush to putting words together in prayer, we encourage you to close your time in silence, acknowledge the emotions you’re feeling, and simply invite God to enter into this quiet moment with His wisdom and grace.