How Does Faith in God Affect Our Emotions?Намуна

Emotions

“There is… a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV)

All of us experience emotions. We feel highs and lows, joys and sorrows. Emotions can be disturbing, inconvenient and confusing — especially in societies that value rationality and efficiency.

But God created us as emotional beings as part of His perfect plan from the beginning. Moreover,, God Himself experiences emotions too. He is moved by pity and compassion, and He rejoices over His people. He is angry over sin and evil but He loves the world so much that He sacrificed His own Son to save us. God is holy and perfect, so if He experiences emotions, this cannot be a bad thing.

It is important to acknowledge, however, that our emotions have been deeply affected by sin. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and chose evil over good. Ever since, all humans are subject to sinful emotions and/or sinful behavior in response to our feelings. When our emotions drive us, we don’t always make wise choices. Negative emotions such as hatred, fear and sadness are harmful. The pursuit of positive feelings such as joy and fulfillment can become so important to us, that we sacrifice the interests of others for our own pleasure.

Do you value emotions in general as positive, or rather as negative? Why?