The Bible has a lot to say about our feelings and emotions. On one hand, God gave us feelings and emotions for a reason. They help us experience the full spectrum of what it means to be human. Feelings like love, joy, happiness, and peace are good gifts from God when experienced properly. On the other hand, the Bible warns us about being led astray by unchecked emotions. Feelings like lust, envy, anger, and hatred can lead us into sin when not controlled and submitted to God.
The key is balance and wisdom in how we respond to our feelings. The Bible encourages us to bring our emotions before God in prayer, to test them against God’s truth, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. Our hearts and feelings can often deceive us, so we need the discernment that comes from God’s word to keep us on the right path. Here are several key biblical principles to keep in mind when evaluating if we should trust our feelings:
1. Our hearts are prone to deception
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This verse is a sobering reminder that our hearts and feelings can frequently be unreliable and lead us astray. We are fallen people in a fallen world, so our emotions are tainted by sin and often clouded by flawed perspectives. What feels right is not always right in God’s eyes. We need to be cautious about simply following our hearts without evaluating those feelings in light of God’s truth.
2. We need wisdom and discernment
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13). Wisdom comes from God and is needed to properly understand ourselves and make good decisions. Wisdom enables us to evaluate our emotions and discern which ones to act on and which ones to deny. Godly wisdom comes from prayerfully reading God’s word and actively walking with the Spirit in obedience. It provides necessary discernment amid complicated emotions and situations.
3. Our flesh and spirit are at war
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:17). Our fallen, sinful nature will gravitate toward emotions rooted in the flesh – anger, jealousy, selfishness, greed, lust, etc. But the Holy Spirit works in us to cultivate emotions rooted in grace – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. These are at war within us, so we can’t always trust our initial feelings and reactions.
4. Bring your feelings before God
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1). We need to continually bring our emotions to God, thirsting for Him above all else. Only He can satisfy our deepest longings. As we abide in Christ, our feelings and desires begin to align with His (John 15:1-11). We become more discerning of wayward emotions.
5. Take thoughts captive
“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). When emotions arise from skewed or incomplete thinking, we need to take those thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Examine if your feelings are arising from deceitful philosophies and false assumptions contrary to God’s word. Where needed, repent and change your thinking.
6. Think on right things
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). When our minds dwell on righteousness, purity, and praiseworthy things, our emotions follow. Setting our minds on godly truths directs our feelings wisely.
7. Pray for godly emotions
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). God cares about our feelings and invites us to cast our cares on Him in prayer. As we pray, we can ask God to renew our minds and give us pure, loving emotions that align with His will.
8. Obey God’s word
“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Obeying God often requires denying improper feelings and acting contrary to our emotions. When we walk in loving obedience to God’s word, right emotions eventually follow as the Spirit renews our minds. Simply following emotions ignores the primacy of obedience.
9. Submit feelings to the Holy Spirit
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Only by submitting to the Spirit’s control and dying to self can we overcome sinful desires and walk in godly emotions rooted in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit purifies our hearts as we yield to Him.
10. Renew your mind
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2). God transforms our emotions and restores proper thinking as we fix our eyes on Christ through regular Scripture reading, prayer, fellowship, and obedience. This renews our minds to align with His perfect will.
In summary, our feelings can often be unreliable and lead us astray if not submitted to God’s truth and the guiding of the Holy Spirit. While not ignoring our emotions, we need godly wisdom and discernment to evaluate them and respond appropriately. We find true life and joy when we anchor our hearts to God’s word and will. Our deepest satisfaction comes from loving and obeying God above fleeting emotions. As we walk closely with Christ, our minds and feelings eventually come into alignment with His perfect, pleasing, and holy will.