Get Over It!: Break Free From the Stuck CycleПримерок

Day 2: The Trouble with Feelings

We have a complicated relationship with our feelings. This relationship is conditioned early in our lives. As infants and young children, feelings are a natural part of us, and the response is equally natural. We feel sad or afraid or hurt and we cry, happy and we smile or laugh. Feelings are just that – feelings. We might learn early on and usually from watching the response of those around us - that feelings are good or bad, right or wrong. That can mean we should not feel this way, or it’s not safe to emote about this… and that starts the suppression dance. We hear "don’t feel what you feel" so we stuff and ignore our feelings! Suppression doesn’t allow us to respond to feelings healthily. The suppression of our emotions can lead us to get stuck.  

Being made in God’s image means we are made to have emotions. David is a good example of a healthy expression of emotion. He and the other Psalmists poured out their hearts to God. There are honest and very raw emotions expressed in every chapter: deep disappointment, anger, confusion, sadness, loneliness, joy, excitement, and rejoicing.

We keep feelings in place when we ignore them. We bury them deeper when we deny them. This coping mechanism seems to help in the short term – but it hurts in the long run. To get over anything, the honest acknowledgment of our feelings is the key to healing. 

PRAYER:

Thank you; Lord, for wiring me with emotions. You created me in your image and my emotions are a reflection of You. Help me to understand that my emotions are important and valuable to help me understand myself and You better.

Help me to distinguish between emotions and my opportunity to express them. Heal me in the places where I have been wounded and meet me in my fears about having or dealing with my emotions.