Good Emotions

READ: HEBREWS 4:14-16

Anger. Sadness. Fear. These and other emotions can be tough to regulate, and it can make us wonder: are emotions even good?

God made us with emotions, and they are good. They help us process hard things we face in our world that’s been broken by sin. And emotions can even help motivate us to find ways to take care of ourselves and others. But, like with all good things in our broken world, there are unsafe and safe ways to express emotions—ways that can hurt us or others, and ways that can help us feel and grow and learn.

Through it all, Jesus is always a safe person to talk to about our emotions— remember, He knows firsthand what it’s like to have big feelings. Especially in the Gospels, we see Jesus experiencing lots of emotions. He empathizes with us, and He can also direct us to other safe people—such as parents, therapists, teachers, friends, etc.—and He can guide us in safe ways to work through those feelings.

What helps people process emotions differs from person to person. The good news is, our loving God provides a wide variety of healthy ways for us to process our emotions. Some people like to go for a brisk walk or go to an open space and throw a ball as hard as they can. Others like to journal or make art. Others like to work with dough. Still others like to sing or play a musical instrument. Because of these differences, it’s valuable to take time to pray, think, and talk with our safe people about various ways to process the good emotions Jesus made us with.

So, when we experience big or intense feelings, we don’t have to be afraid. God can handle them, and so can the other safe people in our lives. Jesus Himself has experienced the full range of human emotion, so we can come to Him with anything we’re feeling—no matter what. 

• What might be examples of unsafe and safe ways to process emotions?

• Who are safe people in your life you can process emotions with—such as therapists, parents, friends, pastors, etc.?

[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)