Healing What's HiddenSample

God Can Handle Our Emotions

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.

As we’re healing from trauma, 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. For example:

• You may feel like no one cares about you. That’s a lie.
• You may feel like God has abandoned you. He hasn’t.
• You may feel like you aren’t going to make it through this trial. You will.

The truth is, emotions are not indicative of the presence of God in our situation. Sometimes when we’re happy, we say that we feel God’s presence. Other times, we feel his presence when we weep. But 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.

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 his followers on the eve of 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).

A counselor, a teacher, 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.

What is one fact you can cling to when your emotions threaten to lead you into hopelessness?