We use emotions to display how we are feeling. They can make us cry in an instant, trigger anger inside, fester unforgiving feelings, and drive us forward to be a success in life, but what does the Bible say about emotions?
To God, the idea of human emotions isn’t unfamiliar in life, as in John 11:35 Jesus famously wept for His friend Lazarus.
In the Bible, we can also regularly see the emotions of God and Jesus when they have been angered by what people have done on earth.
However, this doesn’t tell us much about ourselves. In this article, we will take a deeper look at what is said about our emotions in the Bible, and how best we should handle them if we want to please God and ourselves.
We are all capable of managing the emotions God has wonderfully gifted us with, but it is by understanding what emotions we have and how we should act on them that helps us manage our sensations best.
What The Bible Thinks About Emotions
First, the Bible declares that any form of emotion whether it be sorrow, happiness, or worry, should be brought to God in the form of prayer.
In Philippians 4:6-7 by bringing concerns we have to God, He allows guidance and peace to come back to us.
Corinthians 10:5 agrees with Philippians 4, by encouraging all believers to remove negative emotions against God’s knowledge and instead follow Jesus’s leadership to portray emotions positively.
Essentially, the Bible conveys that our emotions and feelings can occasionally warp our perceptions and sense in terms of what is right and wrong.
It is conveyed that these senses may be warped until innocent people are hurt, or we push ourselves further from God’s loving hand.
The Bible also conveys the message that God and Jesus share the same feelings and emotions as us. However, they know better how to handle them in relation to desires and selfish needs.
Ultimately, our desires are linked to what we so desperately desire and need. When people don’t get those things, they may behave in ways that don’t show them the best light.
Having said this, not all emotions are negative. Some emotions can even be used to help guide others to God’s kingdom.
Positive Emotions
Most will recognize Scriptures used to characterize positive emotions. Several Scriptures demonstrating positive emotions can be found within Galatians 5:22-23.
Here positive emotional behaviors such as kindness, love, gentleness, and joy as fruits of the Spirit are listed.
Verses convey to us that individuals who operate by the flesh (wrath, murder, outburst, jealousy) will not be allowed to inherit God’s kingdom.
We should instead have the fruits within us to show the Holy Spirit we have inside while making the lives of those around us easier.
Colossians 3:12-14 recognizes that we need to wear meekness and tender mercies every day. We should do so whilst being forgiving, and loving to everyone, like Jesus has been for us.
When God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous” we can see that God strives for us to have strong courage no matter what we face. We know like he was with Joshua that he will be with us through any situation.
Negative Emotions
When it comes to negative emotions, the Bible shows us one clear truth. This is that negative emotions will prevent us from enjoying God’s love and blessings.
These emotions can muddy miracles He may give us and blind us when it comes to following the true paths of our destiny.
One of the worst negative emotions a person can demonstrate is fear. Fear can lead us to anger, which in turn makes us lash out or dive into situations we know aren’t healthy.
Moses once spoke of a paralyzing fear he witnessed when reprimanding the Israelites for being too fearful of the land God had provided them with.
Anger is also a negative emotion that has been conveyed in the Bible. This emotion leads us to make bad decisions, causing us to hurt ourselves, strangers, or even our loved ones.
Many of us will remember how the anger Balaam felt pushed him into striking his donkey, who was simply laying on the ground in respect of the angel of the Lord.
Balaam quickly learned from his mistake when his donkey confronted him verbally to ask why he had hit him.
An example of another negative emotion can be seen in Matthew 6:28-30 where Jesus teaches the silliness of worry.
He states that birds and flowers don’t worry about their meals or protection, so we shouldn’t worry if our needs aren’t met either.
It is believed that worry and anxiety demonstrate to God that you have doubts regarding His provision and love for you.
Stories In The Bible That Convey Messages Of Strong Emotions
We don’t have to look too far into the Bible to find countless stories and examples of strong emotion and how they have led people down a certain path.
A good example is Adam and Eve. Eve’s strong desire to be similar to God led her, and Adam to make a negative choice. It was that choice that led to the pair’s exile from Eden. It also brought sin to our world.
Adam and Eve’s sons also portrayed incredibly strong emotions. The jealousy Cain had towards God and his brother Abel as a result of Abel’s true sacrifice led Cain to murder his brother in a fit of calculated anger.
The negative side of lust has also been shown in the Bible. Bathsheba’s husband and child died as a result of King David’s intense feelings for Bathsheba.
It was only when King David realized how much he had displeased God that he truly started to become a man of God.
Stories of strong positive emotions can also be seen in the Bible. These stories often present themes of positive life-changing decisions.
The stories of Mordecai’s display of his grief and Esther’s courage when telling King Haman’s plot are perfect examples of people using strong emotions such as anger and passion positively that affects others.
Jesus used his anger to flip the tables individuals were using to make profits at the place of worship. This was a positive use of emotions as it showed everyone around him that the temple was for prayer, not for money-making.
Conclusion
As we can see from various readings and Scriptures in the Bible, showing emotions isn’t a bad thing. As long as we use our emotions in a way that is controlled and pleasing to God, emotions can be a wonderful way to improve the lives of others and ourselves.
By following the words of God and Jesus we can learn about how to use our emotions positively. This will help us follow the right path to our destiny, whilst also improving the lives of strangers and loved ones.
Negative emotions only make us stray from God’s path which is why it is so important to keep our emotions under control.
Now you have a better understanding of what the Bible says about emotion, why not take some time to reflect on your own emotions and how you can use them to benefit yourself and those around you.
I have been a devout Christian since I was a little girl, so I trust my knowledge can help more people learn and perhaps even join the religion that is Christianity.
In 2011, 75% of Americans identified as Christian. However, in 2021, that number dropped to 63%. That is a 12% decrease, and that trend is likely to continue. If more people aren’t informed about Christianity, I fear that we will suffer from fewer members and we will become a forgotten religion.
My hopes for this website are for it to be a useful resource where you can get all of your supplementary knowledge on Christianity in one place. Of course, your religion leader will be able to answer most of your questions, but when they’re not available, I’m here for you.
