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Emotions, Feelings, and Foundations

What makes you happy and what makes you sad? Do you cry witnessing happy things like your favourite football team winning the league or watching someone on television win a car? Do you get overwhelmed with compassion when you see people suffering or being mistreated?

We all have emotions, feelings and thoughts. Your feelings may drive your thoughts, or your thoughts may determine your feelings. Either way, your thoughts and emotions work in tandem. 

Sadly, some people put up walls to hide their emotions from the world around them. From childhood, it is common for men to develop the idea that it is weak to show your true emotions. Some people have been hurt or badly mistreated and consequently, harden their heart to protect themselves against being pained in a similar way again. Essentially, we all have the choice of how we engage with our feelings. 

Emotions are actually a good thing; God created us with the ability to “feel” and it should never be taken for granted. Feelings are an important part of who we are, and they vitally contribute to our humanity. But who is in control, you or your emotions? Feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness, insecurity, inferiority, desperation, fear, or overwhelming sadness can penetrate your heart and consume you. Left unfettered, these adverse emotions have the potential to take you to a very dark place, such as a deep tunnel of depression. Without a healthy foundation, your emotions are likely to swing wildly out of control and will most likely dominate your thoughts, leading to behaviours and beliefs that are opposed to all that God says about you. Today is a good day to anchor your soul to the firm foundation of God’s Word. 

I love Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV) which says,

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil…

Your soul is the source and seat of your emotions, along with your thoughts and ability to make decisions. To anchor your soul to the hope of heaven is to bring peace into your life. Surrounding verses in Hebrews 6 point us to two immutable (unchangeable) things: God’s Name and God’s Word. One of our beloved songwriters, Ben Fielding, penned a Hillsong Worship song that encapsulates Hebrews 6:13-19. Here is a portion of the powerful lyrics:

There is hope in the promise of the cross

You gave everything to save the world You love

And this hope is an anchor for my soul

Our God will stand

Unshakable.

Your NAME is higher

Your NAME is greater

All my hope is in You

Your WORD unfailing

Your promise unshaken

All my hope is in You.

Particularly in challenging seasons, it is even more important that we allow the right sources to bring a sense of peace and steadfastness to our soul. You can google the lyrics to virtually any song recorded by Hillsong and it will serve as a good tonic for your emotional and mental wellbeing. 

So, may those lyrics be a powerful reminder of the strong foundation you have in the founder of your faith, God who – in stormy seas – reminds us we have an anchor in Him to keep us safe and secure. 

Stay in faith friend, the BEST is yet to come.