Emotions and the Strength of Them

Generally speaking, emotions have ruled my life for as long as I can remember and up until I was able to acknowledge them and transform them. A point often overlooked is the power of emotions. As powerful as they are, emotions are the mystifying gifts granted to us by God. Even more, as human beings we are capable of experiencing both positive and negative emotions. In the same way experiencing as much positive emotions we can is the ideal but the negative emotions are needed to. As an "affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like is experienced, "emotions involve feelings and control our reactions. Though it may not be flattering or welcoming, a life plentiful with both positive and negative emotions is an abundant life because experiences become more valuable when we are able to balance these emotions.

There are many sources of our emotional responses and it is our emotions that have a role in our thoughts, actions, and relationships. For example, anger, anxiety, worry, confusion, depression, disappointment, discouragement, doubt, fear, frustration, jealousy, loneliness, procrastination, rejection, revenge, sadness, stress, and weariness are all reactions or responses to certain situations and circumstances that happen in our lives. Following this further, these emotions are all negative. Positive emotions include, but are not limited to, feeling capable, confident, glad, inspired, loved, peaceful, satisfied, and every other emotion that uplifts.

As compelling evidence that emotions are God given, John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible. It says "Jesus wept" (KJV). This verse is evidence that God has given us emotions and that they are prompted by certain events in a person's life. In other words, God gave us emotions we just need to learn how to control them and not have them control us. It is okay for us to feel sad, joyous, or even angry. Emotions are the one thing all persons have in common. Sometimes our emotions may not be as intense as we think they are. For example, when something does not go the way it was expected the feelings of disappointment may surface. However, it could actually just be frustration that you or someone is feeling. As another example, irritation and not rage could be the actual emotion you or someone may be feeling in other situations. It is up to each individual person to determine what is actually happening within them. Also, for every minute you are angry with someone, you lose 60 seconds of happiness or joy that you can never get back. For this reason, it may be a better idea to feel the negative emotion and then let it pass rather than hold on to it and letting it build even more.

Going further, anger actually is an emotion give of God. It is when anger becomes violent that it is no longer Godly. Anger is a part of human nature, but we have to control our anger and not let it control us or linger for too long. James 1:19-20 (NIV) says to us: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." There are many types of emotions in the world and anger is not excluded. In particular, to be alive is to have feelings and to be passionate. Whatever a person chooses to be passionate about, however, is up to each individual person. For example, being in love can be magical or terrifying, depending on the person experiencing the circumstances. Likewise, giving birth to a child or becoming a father for the first time can cause a person to feel excited, joyous, and fearful all at the same time. With that being said, the key to controlling emotions is to not be led by your feelings. Though they seem to be the same they are not. These two words are often intertwined and mixed up by most people, but with spiritual understanding we learn there is a difference.

For one thing, feelings are the weapons easily used against us by the devil to destroy us because they are purely emotional reactions. These strong feelings or emotional reactions are ordinarily accompanied by changes in behavior. Accordingly, when we lose control of our emotions we lose control of our responses or reactions to them, as well. Obsession, possession, and violence are only a few examples of lost control. Carnal feelings can especially be dangerous. From personal experience and knowledge gained, I know that depression, worry, and fear are other emotions that can harm us physically and mentally if we allow them to take over. Satan is responsible for the responses to emotions that lead to sin and the harm of yourself or others. Feelings that lead to mental distress and acts of violence are reactions to carnal thoughts and emotions. As stated previously, the more a person likes or dislikes something or someone the more that person is going to feel or not feel for that particular thing or person.

Everything begins with a thought and if the devil has power over your thoughts he has control over your reactions and emotions too. Thought is not only intertwined with emotions and feelings, but it is the most significant factor for dealing with emotions. Thus, the possibility of mental duress is great if the thoughts are out of sink. Everything we say or do begins with a thought. It is where our attention is focused that allows us to control how we think, which controls how we feel and therefore ultimately results in a verbal or physical response. To be more specific, a thought causes an emotion and an emotion causes an emotional response or feeling. Whether someone "feels" happy, sad, self-controlled, or outraged is going to determine the outcome of their actions.

Certainly, a person's thoughts, good or evil, are the spiritual food that either nourishes the mind or harms the mind; and eventually the spirit. God is responsible for the good things that happen to us. With that being said, God would never prompt us or tempt us to harm ourselves or others not physically or with our words. He is loving God and desires for us to love one another only. Consequently, evil acts are not performed from thoughts that are of God. With respect to the larger part, all things were created and called into being by God's word and in the same manner, all things will be judged by His word. Webster's dictionary defines emotions as "a conscious mental reaction... subjectively experienced as strong feeling... and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body." The bible, on the other hand, in verse Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV) says: "A wise man will hear counsel and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."

It is so imperative that we transform our negative emotions. The spiritual being is there and has always been there, but most times we allow our ego to rule our feelings and actions. Teachings, meditation, contemplation, and integrating wisdom are the keys to conquering the ego. These processes strengthen the spiritual being and give us an "awakening" or "enlightened" experience. Listening to teachings, contemplating them, and integrating them into our life will result in the awakening and strengthening of your inner voice and also of your innate wisdom and discernment. The end result is that your confidence and everything that is "real" to you returns. For me it was finding stillness, calm, peace, health, and truth.

Peace and Blessings,

Kai