chapter 10: god gave us emotions

Have you ever been singing a hymn and had to pause because the words touched you so deeply? Maybe it was –

“How Great Thou Art”
“Our God Is Alive”
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

What other songs cause an emotional response each time you sing?

Have you ever been reading a passage of scripture or heard a scripture read and felt a lump in your throat?

Pause now and read John 19:1-30.
What emotions do you experience while reading? What specific verses cause what emotions? What other passages create a specific emotional response in you?

Jesus was a “man of sorrows, acquainted with grief,” according to Isaiah 53:5.
(Stop to read Isaiah 52:13-Isaiah 53. If you mark your Bible, note or highlight each adjective or description of Jesus within those verses. If you don't mark your Bible, make a list. Keep the list and read and reread it while you partake of the Lord's Supper.) 

Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus is “touched with the feelings of our infirmities.”

Jesus cried multiple times in the Bible -
Death of Lazarus – John 11:32-36
Sins of the people of Jerusalem – Luke 19:41-42
Sweatdrops like blood – Luke 22:44
Before his crucifixion – Hebrews 5:7

Jesus was angry, without sin, multiple times in the Bible -
When children were hindered from coming to Him - Mark 10:14-16 (“14But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”)

God is emotional, just as His creation is emotional.

We sometimes hear things like, “Big boys shouldn’t cry” or “Wipe your tears” to discourage people from displaying tough emotions, particularly boys and men. But if Jesus Himself can weep, then surely we shouldn’t discourage appropriate displays of emotion at times, too.

Have you ever stopped to think about all the passages of Scripture that demonstrate God’s emotions? Below is just a sampling of some of the verses that show us His emotions, emotions you and I also have, as we’re created in His image. Take time to look up definitions of what each emotion means and then examine it in light of the sample verses listed below.

Anger – Psalm 7:11; Deuteronomy 9:22; Romans 1:18
Compassion – Psalm 135:14; Judges 2:18; Deuteronomy 32:36
Grief – Genesis 6:6; Psalm 78:40
Love – 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Jeremiah 31:3
Hate – Proverbs 6:16-19; Psalm 5:4-5; Psalm 11:5
Jealousy – Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19
Joy – Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:5; Psalm 104:31

Can you think of other verses that demonstrate God’s emotions?

Pause to read Ephesians 4:31-32.

Emotions can be valuable, but they can also be a distraction from more important work. The passage you just read is a vivid reminder that if you let your negative emotions overwhelm you, you can forget the power of Jesus’ forgiveness. The next time you realize your nonverbal communication isn’t communicating Jesus’ love remember just what God gave up when He sent His only begotten son (John 3:16).

While the Bible is pretty clear that we can – and should – control our emotions, there’s also interesting worldly research about emotions. Research done in the 1990s indicated that something as strange as holding a pencil in your teeth to “force” your mouth into a smiling expression can potentially cause you to see things more happily than you would ordinarily. The specific research had subjects put a pencil in their mouths while looking at “Far Side” cartoons. Those with the pencils were statistically more likely to respond in laughter than those who were viewing the images in normal positions. More recent attempts to replicate the research haven’t been as successful, but the original researcher continues to stand by his work. To see more about the original research and some additional ideas for using your body to impact your emotions, see this easy-to-read article.

NOTE: I don’t personally advocate faking your emotions or sticking a pencil in your mouth until you smile (ha). I don’t think that’s what this researcher would advocate for either. When I talk about this research in my college classes, though, we all agree that sticking pencils in our mouths would make us laugh, and some days that really would be a good reason to try it out!

See Proverbs 15:13 for God’s reminder that if you can keep your heart merry, your face will show it, too. Work hard by daily reading of His word and by going often to Him in prayer to ensure you start and end every day with joy, both internally and externally.

Research also indicates that emotions are often contagious. Because of this, it’s especially important to consider the people we spend the most time with on a regular basis. If we’re consistently spending time with people who frown and complain, it’s easy to fall into the trap of frowning and complaining right along with them. The reverse, of course, is also true. Have you ever had a bad day, but you spent some time with a cheerful, loving sister and instantly felt much better? Consider carefully who you spend the most time with, as it impacts your own emotions. When your emotions are low, first spend time with the Father – in prayer and in the Bible. After that, reach out to a sister who can offer godly wisdom and brighten your own spirits. Avoid venting to people who tend to make things more dramatic or drain all your positive energy.

Other things to consider regarding emotions -
While God exhibits emotions clearly throughout Scripture, it’s not always easy for us to follow His perfect example. For instance, the Bible tells us clearly in 1 John 3:15 that hate can lead to murder. So while God hates, for instance, He has the benefit of perfect knowledge that we do not have. James 1:20 tells us that earthly anger doesn’t produce godly righteousness. These – and other biblical examples – are powerful reminders that while God experiences the same emotions we do, we should be careful not to closely compare His emotions to our own. On the other hand, I should be moved by the same things that are emotional for my Savior. If I’m not, I should ask why.