Guy Duininck: Emotions
Emotions
God made man with emotions. Emotions were never designed to be the "Leader" of our lives, however, but an "Informer."
Emotions give us important messages about what is going on with us internally, about the words and actions of others toward us, and about the circumstances that surround us.
It is very important to pay attention to our emotions. We should not act based upon the impulses of those emotions, but we should pay attention to them and include the information they are giving us to assess ourselves, assess our relationships, assess our situations, and to make important decision.
If you are angry right now, explore that anger and find out why it is present. Do not, of course, yield to the impulse of your anger and thoughtlessly lash out at someone or something. Explore your emotion of anger; what is the message it is sending you? Is there something wrong internally? Are you angry because of how others are treating you? Are you angry because of a current life situation outside your control? Pay attention to your emotion of anger; it is informing you that something needs to be addressed in your life, either internally or externally.
If you are anxious, explore that emotion and find out why you are. Are you anxious because of financial pressure? Are you anxious because of how you think others are assessing you ? Is there something internal that you need to address? Are you anxious because things out of your control are affecting your life? Pay attention to the emotion of anxiety; it is informing you that something in your life needs to be addressed, either internally or externally.
Are you sad? If so, don't try to convince yourself that you aren't and don't pretend you aren't sad. Explore your emotion and discover why you are sad. Perhaps your sadness is legitimate, because of a recent loss. Perhaps your sadness is persistent, because of things in your past that you can not change. Perhaps you are sad because you had unrealistic expectations and reality has now set in. Pay attention to the emotion of sadness, especially if it is persistent. It is informing you. Perhaps something in your life needs to be addressed, either internally or externally.
There are many ways God that has designed for us to be informed. He informs us through His Word. He informs us by the voice of the Holy Spirit. But He has also designed us in such a way that our own emotions will inform us.
Emotions were not designed by God to be immediately acted upon or impulsively followed. Emotions should not be our "drivers." When we act based on our emotion in the moment, we often err; we often make mistakes.
Emotions were designed to inform us; they inform us of our internal health and of the goodness or the evil of the words and actions of others toward us. Pay attention to your emotions; observe them and learn about your current self and your current relationships and situations. After including the information your emotions have given you, make well informed, wise, Holy Spirit led decisions and act wise
ly.
