Overcoming Emotional OverwhelmSample

Your Feelings Aren’t Failures; They’re Faith Invitations

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:15–16 (NLT)

“You’re too emotional.”

“You need to suck it up.”

“Stop being such a baby about this.”

Some of us grew up hearing phrases like these on repeat.

It’s easy to understand why humans say things like this. Emotions can feel messy, unpredictable, and inconvenient—especially when they’re someone else’s. Most of us were never taught what to do with emotions, so we push them down, smile politely, and move on.

But here’s the problem: Suppressing our emotions is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. You can do it for a while... but eventually it will pop up and smack you in the face. Usually, when you least expect it.

Emotions are signals—God-given alerts about what’s going on inside.

They’re like a sixth sense that responds to the world around us. And when life gets intense, emotions pile up. That “beach ball” of buried feelings eventually bursts through with tears, shouting, or total shutdown.

After the outburst, shame creeps in. You wish you’d handled things better. You replay it in your head. You wonder if you’re just “too much,” and without tools to break the cycle, you go back to what you know: stuffing it all down and hoping this time will be different.

Let’s try something new today. Let’s reframe it:

Emotions are not interruptions. They’re invitations to deeper intimacy with God.

That feeling of overwhelm? It’s not a character flaw. It’s a cue to check in with your soul and reconnect with your Savior.

Jesus understands emotional overload. He walked through exhaustion, betrayal, fear, and sadness, and He never once told Himself to “get over it.”

When emotions surface, God invites you to let Him in. He meets you with compassion (He knows why it hurts), with clarity (He helps sort truth from lies), and with courage (He empowers you to take the next brave step).

Today, stop trying to shove that beach ball back down. Let your emotions rise to the surface, then hand them to the One who knows what to do with them.

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one emotion you’ve been trying to suppress lately and what might it be trying to tell you?

2. How would it change things if you believed God wasn’t disappointed in your emotions but wanted to meet you in them?

Today’s Emotional Management Tool: Weekly Emotional Check-In

Let’s create space to regularly notice what’s happening in your inner world.

Pick a consistent day each week—or check in whenever you sense emotional overwhelm rising—and ask yourself:

• What am I feeling right now? Be specific (e.g., sadness, anxiety, frustration, etc.).
• Why might I be feeling this way?
• What do I need in this moment?
• How can I invite God into this emotion?

Jot down your thoughts in a journal or notes app. Over time, this practice will help you notice patterns, increase emotional awareness, and start partnering with God earlier, before the beach ball flies out of the water.