Healthy Self: Heart, Soul, Mind & Strengthናሙና

Emotional Health

Growing in emotional health is a gift to ourselves, our marriage, and those around us. Without knowing our own emotions and how to process them, we will struggle to grow in intimacy and connect well with our spouse.

Lack of emotional health also holds us back from intimacy with God. If we aren’t in tune with what’s in our own heart, it will be really hard to let God go to work there! Many of us don’t have a great handle on how to do this. Most people are only aware operate within only 3 emotions: Happy, sad, mad.

Growing in emotional health does not mean getting carried away with our feelings, or letting our feelings carry us away. Proverbs 12:16 tells us that a hot temper is foolish, and that staying calm in the face of insult is wise. It is wise to examine how we respond to the emotional impulses that drive us, and grow more aware of what’s going on inside, in order to move toward emotional health. When we are not in tune with what we are feeling, those feelings don’t go away. On the contrary, they will end up driving our decisions even more if we are trying to escape them or stuff them down, whereas when we open up and pray or prayerfully journal through them, we are able to process through them.

God is not afraid of our big feelings - He created them! He has heard countless prayers through history; David pouring out his heart in the Psalms is just one example. Yet Jeremiah 17 cautions us against trusting our heart, saying “the heart is deceitful … and desperately sick.” That’s why Jesus’s saving grace is so amazing!

God is not surprised when our hearts lead us astray and if we are wise, we won’t be either. Yet, we don’t need to fear our emotions, but to pray through them honestly, submit them to God and keep them in perspective. We see Jesus model this in Luke 22, as he wrestled with the pain of facing the cross, yet submitted his actions to God’s will. As you pray, ask God for clarity and wisdom as you submit yourself to God, heart, mind, soul, strength.

Action Steps:

• Pray and ask God to reveal to you what you are feeling. Look at a Feelings Chart if that helps!
• Write down what is making you feel sad, angry, anxious, and what you’re looking forward to today.
• Examine the factors that impact your emotions (i.e. are you: hungry, tired, have unmet expectations, stressed, etc.).
• Speak your specific feelings out loud in prayer. For example, “God, I am disappointed;” “My feelings are hurt;” “I feel betrayed,” or “I’m lonely.”