God Cares About Your Emotions: Embracing the Gift of Humanity
God is sovereign over all things—from the grandest galaxies to the quiet stirrings of the human heart. Nothing in us exists outside of His divine intent, including the way we feel.
Every Good Gift Comes From Above
Scripture reminds us that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). That includes the "ordinary" gifts we often overlook: oxygen, food, light, rest, reasoning—and yes, even our emotions.
These aren’t random byproducts of evolution or the result of human design. They are part of God's intentional and purposeful creation, declared good before sin entered the world (Genesis 1:31).
Our Humanity Is a Created Good—Marred by Sin, Redeemed by Christ
Our emotions—like every part of our humanity—have been tainted by the Fall. Because of Adam’s sin, our desires and responses are often disordered, our affections misdirected (Romans 5:12, Jeremiah 17:9).
Yet in Christ, we are being made new! Our humanity is not discarded—it is redeemed. In sanctification, God purifies not only our actions but also our emotional life. As we are conformed to the image of Christ, our emotions increasingly reflect what He loves and hates (Romans 8:29, Colossians 3:10).
Why We Resist Our Emotions—and Why We Must Not
Many Christians shy away from acknowledging emotions, fearing their volatility or deception. And it’s true—feelings cannot be our compass. The heart apart from Christ is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). But in Christ, we no longer walk in blindness. The Spirit renews our minds and affections, teaching us to submit our emotions to truth (Ephesians 4:23, Psalm 119:105).
Only God Can Truly Tend to the Soul
We cannot heal or understand ourselves by looking inward. The human heart is too complex for self-diagnosis. Only God knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12), and only He can rightly discern and minister to the soul’s deepest needs.
As we draw near to God through His Word and prayer, the Spirit illumines our minds and softens our hearts. We learn to feel rightly, to mourn sin, rejoice in holiness, and rest in His unchanging promises.
From Lament to Praise: God Welcomes Our Full Range of Emotion
The Psalms are filled with raw, unfiltered emotion—from the depths of despair to the heights of joy. God is not offended by our weakness. In fact, He invites us to bring our whole selves before Him.
“A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” —Psalm 51:17
We come not in our own strength, but clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Even our laments are accepted because our Great High Priest intercedes for us (Hebrews 4:14–16).
When You Don’t Like What You See in Yourself
When we’re overwhelmed by guilt, shame, fear, or jealousy, we don’t hide. We run to the throne of grace.
We say, “Lord, help me. Conform me to Christ. Replace this bitterness with joy. Teach me to love as You love.”
This is the daily rhythm of repentance and renewal—a grace-filled response to our ongoing sanctification.
The Freedom of Being Fully Known and Fully Loved
With God, we don’t perform. We don’t strive for perfection to earn His favor. In Christ, we already have it (Ephesians 1:4–6).
So we approach Him honestly. We confess sin. We offer our joy. We surrender our sorrow. And we rest in the assurance that He is both holy and near—mighty to sanctify and gentle to lead (Isaiah 57:15).
Let Us Draw Near
Let’s stop performing in our quiet times. Let’s cease striving for a spotless record in the secret place.
Instead, let us draw near with confidence, not because we are worthy, but because Christ is (Hebrews 10:22). Let us know God not just as Sovereign Creator, but as Abba Father—who sanctifies us day by day and welcomes even our “messy” emotions into His refining presence.
Final Encouragement:
Your emotions are not to be feared or suppressed—they are to be submitted and sanctified. In Christ, you are free to be known, to be honest, and to be changed. And that, dear sister, is grace.
Meet the Author
Evelyn Faith Ogungbemi
Evelyn Faith loves to bask in the truth that God delights in and rejoices over her with singing! She is a multi-hyphenate— a student doctor who has spent most of her adult life writing across several outlets in tech.
Evelyn is a little too obsessed with starting new (old) books, as you will mostly catch her soaking up C.S. Lewis and the likes, with plugged-in AirPods playing ambient worship music. She also loves to discover indie Christian artists and can go a whole day listening to gospel-centred podcasts.
She believes Jesus’ glorious reign over us is the answer to all of life’s problems, and we must do ministry until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the seas.
