Emotions are not our enemy they can be our allies.
We are hearing a lot lately about Artificial intelligence, but I am trying to work on my Emotional intelligence.
In my past working life I have taught children how to name their emotions and have tried to help them express their feelings in a safe way. ( I used stones with different faces on them so they could show me what they were feeling.)
The older I have got I have realised more and more how I have to learnt to suppress my emotions and often not even been able to name what I am feeling.
A lot of my emotions make me feel uncomfortable and so I do not allow myself to feel them.
Anger, frustration, disappointment these are the ones I suppress.
Or even don’t know what do with.
Anger at a friend’s insensitivity.
Disappointment that a weekend away didn’t go as planned.
Frustration over illness hitting yet again.
Sadness that I can’t help someone in their pain.
I realise that when these emotions arise I have choices, to either sit and wallow or distract myself or to allow myself to feel and express them verbally.
If I am not careful resentment creeps in and that can fester and not get dealt with.
God didn’t create us like robots with no feeling. He created us with a range of emotions.
No emotion then is bad. He has also given us vocabulary and a way to communicate.
He created us to be able to think and choose for ourselves.
God is the only creator that didn’t just design us then leave us to get on with it.
We get to have a relationship with the very person who designed us.
I am challenging myself to stop and think “ what am I feeling” name the feeling and express it.
I am learning to practice thankfulness again as that is an antidote for resentment.
I am learning that I feel angry when my boundaries have been crossed so I need to verbalise what my boundaries are.
Anxiety is something that can creep up on me. I am learning that anxiety is me living in the future so I’m trying to practise being in the present more.
The Bible is full of people lamenting about their situations.
Others crying out to God in fear.
There’s lots of verses of thankfulness too.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Ephesians 4:31 NIV
When we read verses like this it reads as if we’re not supposed to feel these things! But to get rid of them we first need to feel them then express them.
Tell God what you’re feeling be brutally honest. He can take it He has broad shoulders. He knows us better than we know ourselves! May be talk with a trusted friend. Just get it out.
Expression is the antidote to depression.
A verse that I’m dwelling in at the moment is
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:8 NIV
When things feel so huge and overwhelming my challenge is to ask God what are His views on the matter! For He sees the bigger picture.
Creator God thank you that you have created us with feelings.
Thank you that you want us to express them.
Teach us how to do that safely.
Thank you that your thoughts are not our thoughts and your ways are higher than our ways.
Help us to keep communicating with you and listening for your perspective.
A most critical topic that many are afraid to discuss, but everything you've said here Ang is true and should be a big encouragement to everyone to actually, with the Lord, process the feelings we all deal with. Since He already knows what we feel and when there's no point in trying to "hide", or ignore, or pretend differently about our feelings before Him. Are feelings come from Him - he gets angry, sad, etc. But not depressed or anxious ssince He is God. Jesus walked this earth and He KNOWS the human experience! Processing with Him as you so well say is the best way to deal with this deep part of our daily lives. Thanks much!
A most critical topic that many are afraid to discuss, but everything you've said here Ang is true and should be a big encouragement to everyone to actually, with the Lord, process the feelings we all deal with. Since He already knows what we feel and when there's no point in trying to "hide", or ignore, or pretend differently about our feelings before Him. Are feelings come from Him - he gets angry, sad, etc. But not depressed or anxious ssince He is God. Jesus walked this earth and He KNOWS the human experience! Processing with Him as you so well say is the best way to deal with this deep part of our daily lives. Thanks much!