Why You Don't Need to Fear Feelings
I've always been a deeply feeling person.
Whether it's a tragic book ending, a triumphant battle-cry, a friend's depression, or the changing of Earth's seasons - my heart is greatly invested in the joys and the sorrows of the things and people around me.
"This is their problem, not yours. You don't need to concern yourself with it." "Yes, they're leaving. A lot of people do. Someday you'll just have to get used to it."
But for some reason, I'd rather not get used to it.
Maybe I am overcaring and sensitive - but I don't want to live life numb. I would rather be vulnerable and risk letting my heart be broken sometimes than to be blind to the beauty of this world. Even the beauty of the broken things and the broken people.
I believe that God created us with emotions. Though it is inherently sinful to let our feelings guide us to the point of murder, covetousness, and idolatry - it is not sin to feel other things.
It is not wrong to feel sad or depressed, wronged or embarrassed, mournful or unsure. It is not wrong to feel joy or contentment, to feel like laughing aloud - any more than it's wrong to cry and let the hurt out. God is not angered by our weaknesses, rather He has chosen the weak to put to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).
It was said with insight, how "when suffering surrounds, the Wounded God with the nail scars, He does not ask us to deny it, or turn a blind eye to it, or beautify it. He asks us to hold space for it, to collect it, to gather it, like the questioning mystery of manna, and cup it in hand and believe that something in the suffering offers sustenance for the soul."
God gave us our emotions, and though they are not meant to reign us - feelings are meant to be felt, then given over to God.
If you refuse to feel, you may become narcissistic.
"If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact, you must give it to no one......Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.......It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." (C. S. Lewis)
Feelings are meant to be felt, or you'll go numb.
Then, given to God, the Author and Creator of your being - so you can be free.
His love can endure all things.
Whether it's a tragic book ending, a triumphant battle-cry, a friend's depression, or the changing of Earth's seasons - my heart is greatly invested in the joys and the sorrows of the things and people around me.
"This is their problem, not yours. You don't need to concern yourself with it." "Yes, they're leaving. A lot of people do. Someday you'll just have to get used to it."
But for some reason, I'd rather not get used to it.
Maybe I am overcaring and sensitive - but I don't want to live life numb. I would rather be vulnerable and risk letting my heart be broken sometimes than to be blind to the beauty of this world. Even the beauty of the broken things and the broken people.
I believe that God created us with emotions. Though it is inherently sinful to let our feelings guide us to the point of murder, covetousness, and idolatry - it is not sin to feel other things.
It is not wrong to feel sad or depressed, wronged or embarrassed, mournful or unsure. It is not wrong to feel joy or contentment, to feel like laughing aloud - any more than it's wrong to cry and let the hurt out. God is not angered by our weaknesses, rather He has chosen the weak to put to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).
It was said with insight, how "when suffering surrounds, the Wounded God with the nail scars, He does not ask us to deny it, or turn a blind eye to it, or beautify it. He asks us to hold space for it, to collect it, to gather it, like the questioning mystery of manna, and cup it in hand and believe that something in the suffering offers sustenance for the soul."
God gave us our emotions, and though they are not meant to reign us - feelings are meant to be felt, then given over to God.
If you refuse to feel, you may become narcissistic.
"If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact, you must give it to no one......Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.......It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." (C. S. Lewis)
Feelings are meant to be felt, or you'll go numb.
Then, given to God, the Author and Creator of your being - so you can be free.
His love can endure all things.
Hello Amanda,
ReplyDeleteFinally got around to looking for your blog. I sent request to be whitelisted for your instagram account. I'll make sure to let Deb read this.
I'd like encourage you to get a Steemit account. I am assuming you are not blogging for monetary gains but you have the potential to reach more people, for God's glory, in a platform that may help with fulfilling Christ's Great Commission.
Anyhow, it is free to join, just pay particular attention to the sign-up process. They will give you a long password key that must be saved in order to access funds you may earn. Don't lose the key or share it with anyone you don't trust.
There is a Christian presence on Steemit and I believe participating with your gifts could be just like going to an island as a missionary, without worrying about being eaten by the natives, a crypto/electronic island.
"Feelings are meant to be felt, or you'll go numb."
I love that sentence and it reminds me of 2 things, actually the 2 things are related, so maybe it's just 1 thing.
Someone on Steemit wrote a short story and he got the title from the Pink Floyd song "Comfortably Numb" It's a great song, I love it even if the subject matter may be objectionable. If you get a chance give it a listen. Anyhow, check out this short story via this link, I don't think you have to have an account to read it;
https://steemit.com/writing/@negativer/comfortably-numb#@sighmanjestah/re-negativer-re-sighmanjestah-re-negativer-comfortably-numb-20171112t114214913z
My user name is @sighmanjestah If you do sigh up with Steemit it can sometimes take a while to get approved.
In Christ,
Rick
Thanks so much, Rick! I'm not familiar with that site but I'll definitely have to check it out!
DeleteHello Amanda,
ReplyDeleteFinally got around to looking for your blog. I sent request to be whitelisted for your instagram account. I'll make sure to let Deb read this.
I'd like encourage you to get a Steemit account. I am assuming you are not blogging for monetary gains but you have the potential to reach more people, for God's glory, in a platform that may help with fulfilling Christ's Great Commission.
Anyhow, it is free to join, just pay particular attention to the sign-up process. They will give you a long password key that must be saved in order to access funds you may earn. Don't lose the key or share it with anyone you don't trust.
There is a Christian presence on Steemit and I believe participating with your gifts could be just like going to an island as a missionary, without worrying about being eaten by the natives, a crypto/electronic island.
"Feelings are meant to be felt, or you'll go numb."
I love that sentence and it reminds me of 2 things, actually the 2 things are related, so maybe it's just 1 thing.
Someone on Steemit wrote a short story and he got the title from the Pink Floyd song "Comfortably Numb" It's a great song, I love it even if the subject matter may be objectionable. If you get a chance give it a listen. Anyhow, check out this short story via this link, I don't think you have to have an account to read it;
https://steemit.com/writing/@negativer/comfortably-numb#@sighmanjestah/re-negativer-re-sighmanjestah-re-negativer-comfortably-numb-20171112t114214913z
My user name is @sighmanjestah, and you can follow the comments that I made, to the author on this story. One of the comments had to do with the movie “The Execution of Private Slovick”, a movie that I cried my eyeballs out when I watched it. Phew!
If you do sigh up with Steemit it can sometimes take a while to get approved.
In Christ,
Rick
PS I couldn’t seem to post this in your comment section, so I’m going to hand deliver it to you.