Emotions-Week 1

We act like emotionally pretending is more healthy than being honest and vulnerable

STORY - How many times do we lie to people at the store when we answer the question ‘How are you?’

Where did we get this idea that hiding our emotions is what God is asking us to do? Are we supposed to simply put on a happy face?

Psalm 38:9–10 NIV

All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

Psalm 38:15 NIV

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

You can’t get more than a single page into the Psalms without seeing verse after verse of people just pouring their hearts out, emotions and all, towards the Lord.

You know, God has made promises about our emotional lives when we follow him as well. So here’s a question:

The Bible has a lot of promises about our hearts

Here’s some verses:

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

How hard does that sound to ‘not let our hearts be troubled’ and ‘not be afraid’?

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Could we honestly describe our lives as ‘restful’, with an easy yoke and a light burden?

Philippians 4:6–7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What would it look like to be able to say, truthfully, my life is protected by the peace of God?

Are we living these truths?

This sort of immaturity comes from us closing our emotional selves off from God.

How do we tell that we’re closed off emotionally from God?

We do FOR God rather than be WITH God

When our relationship with God isn’t based on proximity to God - it’s unhealthy. And leads us to unhealthy places.

David rightly identified our priorities.

Psalm 27:4 NIV

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

David’s passion wasn’t to be in the temple. It was to seek God out. Just, in his day - God’s presence was in the temple. In our day - it’s in each one of us.

We ignore our weakness and judge other people

These are two sides of the same coin.

If we struggle with anger, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, envy. We ignore it and hide it. We think that we just need to DO the right thing, and ignore what’s wrong on the inside.

Jesus challenged the pharisees on this.

Matthew 23:25–26 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

This isn’t even about legalism. It’s about the idea that God only looks at our outside activity, rather than our inside state of heart and mind.

But on the flipside - if we see someone else struggle in their walk, we’re swift to judge. We take a position of moral or spiritual superiority towards someone else that doesn’t measure up in our eyes.

This is a sign of emotional immaturity because it shows that we’re still using the same scorecard.

What does having both emotional & spiritual maturity look like?

Philippians 4:11–13 NIV

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Learning to let God in emotionally will do amazing things in your life

Psalm 37:4 NIV

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.