The cultures we inhabit are a gift from God. However, at times, these cultures can celebrate habits that might distract us from God, such as allowing emotions to become the primary inspiration for making decisions. As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s important we understand our emotions and how to process them in a healthy, God-honoring way. Let’s examine how the Bible describes and addresses emotions, as well as how we can process both positive and negative emotions in a way that honors God, is beneficial for our emotional health, and doesn’t align with cultural behaviors.
The Bible and Emotions
Throughout the Bible, we observe emotions—and their advantages or disadvantages—on full display. Not only did Jesus experience the full range of emotions during his time on earth, but he, by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave us his Word, which instructs us how to understand and address the positive and negative emotions we feel.
The gospels record Jesus’ experience with emotions during his time on earth. Jesus wept over the death of his friends (Jn. 11:28-37), and his passion for the temple’s purity compelled him to drive out the money changers and vendors (Matt. 21:12-17). Jesus felt “sorrowful, even to death” as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, awaiting his death (Matt. 26:36). Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, and yet was “without sin” in his handling of them (Heb. 4:15-16). Jesus’ anger—and, in turn, God’s anger—is unlike ours, as it is righteous, the result of Israel’s disobedience after many warnings and cautions. God’s anger compels him to righteously discipline those he loves, because he cannot tolerate disobedience. Not only does the Bible paint a picture of how Jesus managed his own emotions, but also the positive and negative emotions that are part of the human experience.
Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a basic understanding of the marks of people whose emotions and character reflect that they “live by the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Colossians 3:12-14 instructs us to put on “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” which are marks of those who have the Spirit in their hearts. Throughout the Psalms, we read the author’s words of praise, thanksgiving, and trust before God. Psalms such as Psalm 8, 19, 29, 104, and 148 demonstrate bringing emotions of praise and worship before God, which deeply honors him. Psalms 18, 30, 32, 34, 40, 66, 92 and others model how to bring thanksgiving before God after he answers a request or petition. Psalms 22, 23, 121, and 131 model the believer’s trust in God, acknowledging him as defender and protector of his people. These texts (and others) demonstrate a broad range of emotions we experience, offering practical examples—through words—of how we can express ourselves before God and others.
Scripture also portrays negative, difficult emotions, which have the power to control our reactions and decisions in a way that dishonors God. Fear often causes us to cower from where God calls us, as the Israelites feared the Canaanites before entering the promised land (Num. 13). Anger, when improperly handled, causes us to harm others (Cain and Abel, Gen. 4) and dishonor God in a variety of ways. Lust, when improperly handled, can lead to adultery and other sins (2 Sam. 11-12). Worry and anxiety, when left unchecked, can cause us to question God’s provision for us, fearing that we won’t have what we need (Lk. 12:22-34). Books such as Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Job, and some of the Psalms (such as Psalm 3, 6, 22, 28, 44, 60, 74, 79, and others) vocalize emotions surrounding grief, lament, anxiety, loss, opposition, and other experiences.
These are just a few examples of the emotions we experience. None of us is immune to experiencing these emotions, but with the Spirit’s help, we can wrestle with and through them. Sometimes this wrestling means embracing them, and other times it means working through them so they don’t destroy you. Scripture is a helpful guide as we begin to consider how to process our emotions in a healthy, God-honoring way.
Applying Scripture to Our Emotions
God’s Word not only describes emotions, but also offers some basic guidelines for how we can begin processing them in a healthy, God-honoring way.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we’re instructed to “take every thought captive to obey Christ,” and this includes our emotions. This means prayerfully considering questions such as, “Will this emotion (or acting on it) help me honor Christ, or will it cause me to disobey him?” A question like this—especially when you’re experiencing something like fear or anger—will begin to help recenter your mind and guide your actions.
In Philippians 4, we’re instructed to “make our requests known to God,” and pursue what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and praiseworthy” (Phil. 4:6, 8). As you wrestle with your emotions, never hesitate to bring them before God in prayer and reflection. Ask God, “What would you have me do with this emotion?” or “Is the emotion I’m feeling aiding me in honoring God through what’s true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and praiseworthy, or will it detract from that pursuit?” Consider your emotions through the lens of God’s honor, rather than your own pleasure or selfish desires.
As you take “every thought captive” and make your requests “known to God,” there are also other helpful ways to process our emotions in ways that honor God and benefit our mental and emotional health.
Helpful Tools for Processing Emotions
Processing emotions looks different for each person—here’s a few tools that have helped me as I’ve pursued emotional health:
- Bring them to God: Bring your emotions before God regularly, particularly in prayer. God delights to hear the prayers and requests of his people, including your requests for his help and guidance as you seek to respond well to your emotions. A helpful tool for remembering God’s faithfulness in happy and difficult seasons is to journal your prayers as you process, reflect on, and take action based on your emotions.
- Discuss with trusted friends and mentors: If possible, identify a trusted friend or mentor (or two) that provide wise, godly counsel, and are willing to serve you as you work through your emotions. While you may not call them daily, having these trusted individuals in your corner when you need to work through emotions—especially difficult ones—is so helpful. I’ve found that when fear, anger, jealousy, or envy threatens to overwhelm me, bringing it before godly friends helps me think more clearly and lessens its intensity in my heart and mind.
- Set boundaries with the negative: In our digitally-focused world, consuming mass amounts of deeply sad, troublesome, and unnerving information can negatively impact our emotions. While remaining informed is good, too much information can often lead to deep feelings of sadness, grief, anxiety, fear, and other negative, heavy emotions that are difficult to process. If fear of current events leaves a persistent knot in your stomach, or the idea of another war beginning across the globe has your heart rate regularly elevated, it might be a good opportunity to not only bring these emotions to God and discuss them with those you trust, but to set boundaries with the media you consume.
- Pursue mental health support: Whether you’re in a good place or difficult one, pursuing mental health support is never a bad idea. Establishing regular appointments with a counselor or therapist is a wonderful way to have consistent, neutral insight into your emotions, and a trained counselor or therapist can help you process difficult emotions, as well.
- Resist cultural norms: We live in a world where emotions become the standard for and justification of our actions. Rather than acting in ways that honor God—even if it means denying self—we’re frequently tempted to allow our emotions the final word in our decision making. Our culture justifies anger-driven social media posts that damage reputations, or hate-filled speech towards people of opposing viewpoints. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to be a Christ-like example of living in a way that honors God, even if it goes against cultural standards. Instead of hate speech or angry social media posts, resolve conflicts quietly and seek to uplift others, even if you disagree with them. With God’s help and guidance, be different from those around you.
Emotional health is a lifelong journey, not a one-time fix. As such, commit to understanding and evaluating your emotions in light of God’s Word, as well as processing your emotions in ways that benefit your emotional health and resist cultural norms. God promises to walk alongside you and grant you wisdom as you seek to honor him with your emotional life and health.
Application Questions
- What tools would be most beneficial to me as I process these emotions?
- What predominant emotion(s) am I wrestling with right now?
- How are these emotions affecting my decisions and overall health?
- Where or how does Scripture speak to the emotion(s) I’m wrestling with?
- How should I bring the emotion(s) I face before God?
Leah Jolly is a graduate of Wheaton College where she studied international relations and Spanish. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband, Logan, and is pursuing her MDiv at Calvin Theological Seminary. She attends Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan. You can connect with Leah on Instagram and Substack.
