How are you feeling these days?

• Annoyed
• Bored
• Numb
• Passionless
• Peaceful
• Purposeful
• Relieved
• Resentful

Don’t worry: I’m not asking you to get all mushy. I’m just asking you to check in with yourself. What is a word or two you would use to describe how you’re feeling right now?

This exercise might seem elementary, but it can be profound. Glad, sad, happy, or mad, your emotions exist to tell you something about your environment and your well-being.

More often than we would like to admit, we are tired, quick to anger and restless. We label these “bad” emotions and try to ignore them, cover them up or explain them away. You probably have examples from your life when you pushed through or protected someone you loved from one or more of these “bad” emotions, only by the end of the day to feel their weight multiplied.

Emotions do not show weakness. They can actually be a superpower in the hands of God. He can take your weariness and turn it to rest, your anger to forgiveness and your restlessness to peace. What the Father desires is for you not to hide from him, but to come to him… just as you are.

God wants to renew a right spirit within you (Psalm 51:10), restore your soul (Psalm 23:3), and make accessible to you an abundance of peace, joy, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22–23). Run to the Father; he is ready to embrace and restore you.

Application

No matter your gender, age, or stage of life, it can be hard to put into words what you’re feeling. A Feelings Wheel is a handy tool to help you match a word to a feeling and be found for free online. Start on the inside of the wheel and work your way outward to explore the secondary causes of your feelings. For example, I am scared, but how that is really showing up for me is feeling constantly overwhelmed.

Go Deeper Resources

“I've carried a burden
For too long on my own
I wasn't created
To bear it alone
I hear Your invitation
To let it all go
Yeah, I see it now
I'm laying it down
And I know that I need You”

Add Run to the Father to your playlist and be reminded of God’s great love for you and the invitation to find our rest and restoration with him.