Emotional Strength: Letting Your Emotions Lead You to God

Our emotions are meant to turn us to God, but we must learn from the Bible how to do it. Jesus gave us the best example.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)

I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don’t feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. Now I’m glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss.

2 Corinthians 7:8-9 (MSG)

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

Hebrew 5:7-9 (NLT)

Emotional Strength from Vulnerability

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Matthew 26:36-38 (NLT)

Jesus was feeling more overwhelmed than he ever had in his life. Many of us isolate at these times, but Jesus chose to pray and bring his closest friends with him. He shared with them what was going on with him and asked them for help. Our emotions shows us our need for God and people. When we see our need, we are supposed to be vulnerable with God and other people. What do you do when your emotions show you your need? Do you hide your need or do you express them? How vulnerable would people close to you say you are?

Emotional Strength From Never Quitting In Prayer

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.

Matthew 26:40-44 (NLT)

Breakthroughs happen when you push yourself in prayer. Jesus kept praying until he was resolved in his heart about going to the cross. He worked hard in his prayer. He could have stopped at one prayer, but he kept going. He wanted to learn how to rely on God. We cannot learn to rely on God with our life if we do not work hard at prayer. Decide to pray longer than you ever had. Pray until you feel resolved about whatever situation in your life you need the most faith.

Questions/Application

• What are the top 5 emotions that you feel day-to-day? How often do you pray about them? How often do you share with someone else about what you feel?
• What is your favorite alternative from talking with God about your emotions? TV, kids, eating, reading news, work, etc?

Prayer Idea

• Before you pray, make a list of the top 5 things you feel the most about (family, job, school, etc). Write down what you feel about each of them today and pray about each of them as well as how you feel. Use a feelings chart to help with this.

Additional Reading

• Psalms
• Philippians