Emotional Connections
Becoming Friends with Your Feelings
"... Imagine watching a sunset, a ball game, or the ocean and feeling no emotion. Feelings are a gift of God to help us enjoy life and process pain. Certainly sometimes we feel lonely, disappointed, and frustrated, but these emotions push us to take constructive action.
Pause and thank God for whatever emotion you are presently feeling.
Ask Him to guide your actions. Some Christians are critical of their emotions. They will say, "Don't trust your emotions. Faith, not feelings is the road to spiritual growth."
Why are we so critical of our emotions? In Mark chapter three, Jesus felt anger and sorrow. Is that bad? I don't think any of us would condemn Jesus for having emotions. Then why do we condemn ourselves?
God gave us emotions for growth, maturity, fulfillment, and enjoyment. Feelings were made to be our friends.
If it is a negative emotion, it means something needs attention. It is like the red light that appears on the dash when your car needs oil. We don't curse the light; we give attention to the problem. Why not do the same with your emotions?
If you take constructive actions, emotions have served their purpose."
~Gary Chapman, Author of "Five Love Languages"
"... Imagine watching a sunset, a ball game, or the ocean and feeling no emotion. Feelings are a gift of God to help us enjoy life and process pain. Certainly sometimes we feel lonely, disappointed, and frustrated, but these emotions push us to take constructive action.
Pause and thank God for whatever emotion you are presently feeling.
Ask Him to guide your actions. Some Christians are critical of their emotions. They will say, "Don't trust your emotions. Faith, not feelings is the road to spiritual growth."
Why are we so critical of our emotions? In Mark chapter three, Jesus felt anger and sorrow. Is that bad? I don't think any of us would condemn Jesus for having emotions. Then why do we condemn ourselves?
God gave us emotions for growth, maturity, fulfillment, and enjoyment. Feelings were made to be our friends.
If it is a negative emotion, it means something needs attention. It is like the red light that appears on the dash when your car needs oil. We don't curse the light; we give attention to the problem. Why not do the same with your emotions?
If you take constructive actions, emotions have served their purpose."
~Gary Chapman, Author of "Five Love Languages"
"Think the best of each other, especially of those you say you love. Assume the good and doubt the bad. The prophets tell us that true love 'beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 So Christ loved us, and that is how He hoped we would love each other. In a final injunction to his disciples for all time, He said, 'A new commandment I give unto thee, that ye love one another as I have loved you.' John 13:34 Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and for your sweetheart." Elder Jeffry R. Holland www.mormon.org
