Emotion Check
Do your emotions ever feel like a burden to you? In addition, have you thought that if you were to share your feelings with someone that they would think that you’re a burden? Therefore, you find yourself letting your emotions build up inside, not wanting to deal with them and/or feel weak if you do. First, if someone makes you feel that way after sharing your feelings/thoughts, then they aren’t the best person to spend time with anyway. A person who truly cares for you, and is a true companion, would want you to open up to them about anything so to try and help in some way! Second, don’t make yourself feel worse by becoming angry when you get emotional. God gave us emotions, and even Jesus experienced them. Emotions are a part of being human.
The only thing you can do is make sure that the emotions don’t rule your life.
Let them out, process them, and deal with what you need to.
Don’t allow your emotions to stop you from continuing on your journey in a healthier way. I, myself, have had to work on this. One way I have learned to not be so hard on myself, and address my feelings, is by taking time to journal my thoughts. It’s an unfiltered way to get out all that may be building up and affecting you negatively. Another way is by learning to surrender and accept help from the One who is always there for you. Did you know there is Someone whose whole existence is spurred by wanting to be there for people? That person is One who wants the sick, hurt, and broken people to come to Him, and He doesn’t ask for any money or anything in return. Crazy right? Who could this be? Well, His name is Jesus, and He is the Son of God and Savior of the world! In addition, I want to bring attention to the book of Psalms in the Bible, which is a personal favorite of mine. I have many Psalms that I have turned to during different times in my life. David, the author of most of the Psalms, writes to God with such vulnerability in each season of his life. He tells God when he is angry, afraid, joyful, sad, determined, in despair- most every emotion you can think of. In other words, the book of Psalms is filled with proclamations, pleas, and praises. So, when I feel that I can’t put something into words, or don’t want to talk with anyone about my struggles and mental battles, I turn to God through the Psalms.
It doesn’t matter how many times you turn to God with the same feeling or situation because He wants you to address it so you can move forward with Him!
You can go to Him with any struggles: insecurities, shame, discouragement in season of singleness, relationship hurt, church hurt, mental battles and so much more. And contrary to popular belief, you never are a burden to God. Matthew 11:28-30 talks about how Jesus wants to take your burdens, and in exchange, give you rest. He desires for us to turn to Him, so He can make our burdens light! Therefore, your problems never affect Jesus! In fact, the only thing that He feels for you is compassion. He is emotionally moved to physically and spiritually help to restore you! Jesus is always full of love, power, grace, and strength. Nothing you do can take that away from Him. Jesus overflows with all of these things, which He freely gives to each one of us. You can be that person if you let Him! Trust God and bring Him all of your emotions, good or bad, knowing you never have to handle them alone.
