Emotion – Natural and automatic mental and physical reaction to something around you.
Biological response that prepares you to respond.
Feeling – Conscious, subjective experience of a physical sensation, touch, or emotion. How your unique self interprets those emotional responses.
Emotions happen to us, but feelings are how we experience and make sense of those emotions.
6 emotions – Joy Saddness Fear Anger Disgust Surprise
For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted
Hebrews 2:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15 New International Version (NIV)
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Mark 3:5 (NIV)
Jesus wept.
John 11:35 (NIV)
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11: 43-44 (NIV)
Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:38-39 (NIV)
Jesus’ response was always governed by truth, love, and obedience. His feelings were never uncontrolled or sinful. His actions were constantly drawing people TOWARD God, not away from Him.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (NIV)
It is a choice. We can allow our feelings to be controlled by sin and death or by the life and peace that only Jesus can bring.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27 (NIV)
Solomon’s Paradox: “We simply asked our participants to use their own name and other non-first-person pronouns such as ‘you’ when thinking about themselves. Instead of saying, ‘Why am I feeling this way?’ you adopt a distanced perspective by asking yourself, ‘Why are you feeling this way?” Ethan Kross
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God
Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
The ability to see in things in a true, Godly way, realistic to His thoughts and feelings about us. A way of viewing reality that aligns with God’s character, truth, and His priorities. Understanding situations and emotions from God’s point of view. We could call this ‘God Perspective’.
Gaining God Perspective in our lives helps us to counteract the lies and remember that we are not alone. Our feelings are real, and we feel them, but we must remember that our feelings are not always truth.