How Does Faith in God Affect Our Emotions?Намуна

Keep your emotions in check

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11 ESV)

Our emotions sometimes run wild and can completely overwhelm us. The sight of injustice can make our blood boil. Bad news can throw us off balance. Worries torment our soul until we can think of nothing else and our hearts can be overwhelmed with sadness.

When you experience such strong emotions, it is difficult to resist them. Your feelings can be so intense that you can no longer think clearly. When that happens, read Psalm 42. This song expresses how someone is consumed by melancholy and sadness. All day long he is mocked, he feels overwhelmed by his emotions, and he longs intensely for God—like a deer pants for streams of water. But then this man says to himself: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God!” This helps him to focus on God instead of on his misery. When his problems threaten to overwhelm him again a few verses later, he repeats the same message and he pours out his heart to the Lord. “My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember You.” (Psalm 42:6 ESV)

When you feel overwhelmed by your emotions, how do you respond? Consider following the example in Psalm 42!

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