I grew up in a Christian family, with both a Dad and a Mom. My Dad served with middle schoolers on Sunday mornings for 15 years, and my mom served with the homeschool group for 18 years. I am a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute, a two year school that grants biblical studies credit for pursuit of further christian education. I only participated in 1 year of the two year program, spending my school year at their florida campus near Tampa, FL.

The summer of 2012, I spent in Springfield Massachusetts. Working with a local church in VBS, anti-bullying initiatives, summer teen programs, and home bound ministry. I graduated and was hired by Word of Life Bible Institute as a department manager for the admissions department for the school year of 2012-2013. I was then asked to change positions, becoming an assistant to the Dean of Admissions.

The years of 2012 – 2014 were the most challenging years for my personal spiritual walk. Facing moments of loneliness, uncertainty, and culture shock. There were times I simply did not know how my feelings and truth of God’s Word coincided.

Regardless of who we are and how we feel, we have a God who can answer every question and speak to every emotion we have.

I am emotional person. I feel deeply, and unfortunately it shows on my face. Often I think “what are emotions for?” And often, I can’t come up with an answer. One thing I do know, emotions help us relate to one another. They help us communicate. They help us connect. But do they indicate spiritual maturity? Are you more pious or holy when there is a lack? How do you know and how do you balance?

Since the other sources I have are emotional people, I figured the best way to find out this answer was to turn to the examples I have in scripture. David, Jeremiah, Mary (sister to Lazarus), and Jesus.

Examples in Scripture

David, known as the man after God’s own heart. That term comes from 1 Samuel 13:14 when Samuel is telling Saul that the kingdom is being taken away from him. David is also one of the contributors of a majority of Psalms (full of emotion). Before taking his throne he was known as a skillful musician (1 Samuel 16:18).

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:14 ESV

https://www.esv.org/1+Samuel+13/

Jeremiah, a prophet alive during the years of captivity. He wrote the books Jeremiah and Lamentations (book of lamenting). Known best by his nickname “the weeping prophet”. He walked back and forth for over 40 years telling the people to repent. Guess what he did during all that walking and preaching? You guessed it, cried. Emotional would be the term I would use here.

Mary, the sister of Lazarus was a fire cracker at best. When Lazarus died, she was a wreck (as any person would be). The provider for her household just died, and she knew Jesus could’ve taken care of it. Raising her voice, crying, jumping to conclusions, Mary is a real example of how we are.

Jesus, our best example. There are numerous occasions where Jesus is described as “having compassion”. He experienced joy at the wedding feast in Cana and then cleansed the temple as described in John 2. In John 11:35, Jesus mourned over the loss of his friend to show that he was human and to identify with Mary and Martha.

All of these (and more) show us that emotions are not to make our lives messier, but to show us that we are capable of deeper connections. But what if how we feel doesn’t quite make sense? What if our feeling causes friction in our belief?

Every Good and Perfect Gift

Attributes are the defining qualities of a person. Likewise, attributes of God are defining qualities of God that he has revealed to us. A way for us to get to know him better. In James 1:16-18 we are given a little hint.

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:16-18 ESV

https://www.esv.org/James+1/

What is the most perfect gift God has ever given? Himself, Jesus Christ, God incarnate. Where did our gift come from? From the Father Himself, from above. How so? John 1 says, “… but the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” James says “…of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth..”

Besides learning from Christ, the very attributes of God can bring a comfort to us like a friend comforts us. Jesus identified with us by showing emotions, but God the father gives us clues about himself that we may have a better understanding and gain wisdom.

“When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:19 ESV

https://www.esv.org/Psalm+94/

The more time we spend getting to know the God who invented emotions. Our understanding and connection with Him become deeper. Jeremiah (our weeping prophet) gives us a good word for this connection.

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”” Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

https://www.esv.org/Jeremiah+9/

So how do the attributes of God help me with being emotional? Well, I personally wrote out all the things I was frustrated, angry, and confused about. 1. Writing helps you process things. 2. Writing helps determine whether something is worthy of time or not. Then I wrote down the attributes of God that best answered my emotional processing lists.

I found an answer to everything I was angry, frustrated, and confused about. God was my answer. Instead of dwelling on how I felt and feeding those feelings, I chose to dwell on the one who can actually do something about it. The one who sits outside of time, but yet is invested in me.

Your consolations cheer my soul.Knowing you, who you are regardless of what I’m feeling, cheers my soul.