Emotions are like the check-engine light on a car. They don’t tell us exactly what’s wrong, but they alert us that something under the hood needs our attention.
It’s important to recognize what we are feeling, but we need to remember that emotions don’t tell the whole story—and they don’t always tell the truth.
Just a few thoughts for an example:
• You may feel like no one cares about you. That’s a lie. - There are people all around you who care.
• You may feel like God has abandoned you. He hasn’t. God is always there and has your best interest in mind for every circumstance you encounter.
• You may feel like you aren’t going to make it through this trial. You will. There is always tomorrow. It may look different than what you had expected... but joy comes in the morning.
The truth is, emotions are not indicative of the presence of God (or lack of) in our situation. Sometimes when we’re happy, we say that we feel God’s presence. It’s often in the difficult moments we say that God is not with us. This is solely a view of wrong perspective. We can be sure of God’s presence even when we can’t feel him. That’s because God’s presence isn’t a feeling; it’s a fact. He is always with us.
Whether or not you feel close to God right now, he’s close to you. He longs for you to experience his uninterrupted presence. Jesus spoke of this gift to the disciples just before his death:
“But the Advocate [Counselor], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:26–27).
The One who brings peace—doesn’t this sound like someone we need when strong emotions overwhelm us?
Feeling strong emotions isn’t indicative of a lack of faith. Jesus felt strong emotions, and no one would doubt his faith! God can take it when we feel desperate, furious, terrified, or overwhelmed. He wants us to bring the emotions to him and to let his Holy Spirit point us to the source of the emotions so that they can be healed (Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:6–7).
It isn’t about controlling our emotions; it’s about engaging them and allowing God to teach us through them. Our feelings can lie to us, but God will always tell us the truth.
- Healing What’s Hidden Devotional (modified)
Blessings,
Hands of Hope International