Feeling angry, sad, or afraid? God created all of our emotions, and he can use every part of our emotional life to help us grow mature in our relationship with him.
Talking Points:
- Emotions are a part of daily life. Some emotions are great, but others are more difficult. Yet God created all of our emotions. He can use your emotions to help you grow in pursuing him.
- The Psalm writer is not embarrassed to express sorrow, regret, depression, and shame. Yet, many people feel that the Christian life is mainly about ideas and actions, and it can be confusing to know where emotions fit. Psalm 42:3-5,9
- Because of our sin, emotions so often are expressed in negative and harmful ways, but they can also be expressed for good. Jesus experienced anger and sadness without sin. Ephesians 4:26
- Process your emotions by spending time asking God to show you your heart and life. Then respond to your feelings in a way that honors God – not by stuffing them, but by choosing God’s ways in spite of how you feel. Psalm 42:9,11
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you ever find emotions confusing? If so, in what ways?
- Do you think emotions are good, bad, or neutral? Explain.
- Read Deuteronomy 9:22. In what ways are God’s emotions like ours, and different from ours?
- Read Matthew 26:37-38. What do you learn from the examples of Jesus’ emotional life?
- Why is it important to reflect on your emotions in God’s presence? How would a person actually do that?
- Read Psalm 42:9,11. How can you respond to your feelings in a way that honors God – without denying or burying them?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
