Navigating our feelings is an essential aspect of being human, and many turn to the Bible for answers. The Bible speaks to the heart of our emotions, emphasizing that while feelings are genuine, they shouldn’t dominate our lives. Instead, we should look to God’s view and the teachings of Jesus for guidance. This doesn’t mean suppressing emotions but understanding and navigating them through the lens of the New Testament and God’s word.
If you’ve ever wondered how feelings align with biblical teachings, dive deeper with us!
What Does the Bible Say About Feelings?
Emotions, both positive and negative, have always been a part of the human experience. The Bible doesn’t shy away from discussing them. From the joyous celebrations of David to the sorrow of Job, the scriptures paint a rich tapestry of human emotion, guided and informed by a loving God.
The New Testament, especially, provides insight into God’s view on feelings. Jesus himself, being fully human and fully divine, displayed a wide range of emotions. He wept at the death of his friend Lazarus, showed anger in the temple, and felt deep compassion for the sick and needy.
One critical aspect the Bible emphasizes is that feelings, in themselves, aren’t sinful. However, how we act on them can lead to sin. Anger isn’t prohibited, but acting out in anger can lead to harm. Similarly, desiring something isn’t wrong, but letting desire control our actions can be problematic.
Importantly, the Bible teaches that our feelings shouldn’t be our ultimate guide. Instead, we should seek God’s wisdom and the teachings of Jesus to navigate our emotional terrain. While feelings are valid and real, they’re also transient and can be misleading. By grounding ourselves in the Bible and in prayer, we can understand our emotions better and respond to them in ways that align with God’s will.
Bible Verses About Feelings
- Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Interpretation: This verse cautions against letting our feelings control our actions. While emotions are natural, acting on impulse without reflection can lead to undesirable outcomes.
- Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Interpretation: Here, the Psalmist advises us to keep our anger in check, suggesting that succumbing to it can lead us down a path away from God’s will.
- John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” Interpretation: This shortest verse in the Bible shows Jesus’s humanity, proving that feeling and expressing deep sorrow isn’t against God’s design.
- Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.” Interpretation: This passage from the New Testament teaches that feelings stemming from love, joy, and peace are gifts from the Holy Spirit and are allowed in God’s eyes.
- Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Interpretation: While anger is a natural emotion, the Apostle Paul advises not to let it lead to sin or hold onto it.
- Psalm 56:8 “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” Interpretation: God is deeply aware of our sorrows and keeps track of our pains, showing His compassion and understanding of human emotion.
- Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Interpretation: Paul teaches that empathizing with others, sharing in their joys and sorrows, is a divine trait.
- Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Interpretation: Anxiety and worry are common feelings, but through prayer and trust in God, we can find peace.