A Life Worth Living

Our emotions are given to us by God and are a part of us. Like constant companions, we can’t outrun them. Suppress them for a time? Yes, but only for a time. So how do we engage with our emotions in the place of prayer?

The latter part of Psalms 62:8 encourages us to pour out our hearts to the Lord because God is our refuge. This pouring out includes our emotions.

Jesus, in the hours leading up to his death, prayed this way, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.” And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:40,44)

In these verses Jesus is honest in prayer about the agony He is feeling. While we know He desires God’s will to be done, that is not where he starts His prayer.

The Father invites us to honest conversation about what we feel. We can be honest about our frustrations, disappointments, unfulfilled desires, fears, and anxieties.

We can be honest about our weaknesses and failures.Why?Because God is our refuge (our safe place ) and strength (mighty and impenetrable to temptation) a very present and well-proved help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) God wants to be that safe place for us. He is that safe place. He is a refuge!

Secondly, God is ever present and His help is infallible.

While I know what this verse says, when I am distressed and feeling all sorts of things, most times my first instinct is to tell my husband or tell a trusted friend. While it is not wrong to share with another person, going to the Lord is so much better. I know my husband loves me, but he is not infallible. Only God is incorruptible. Only God’s strength is impenetrable to temptation, therefore, only He is always right. Only His ways can be perfect every time. I can trust God will never lead me astray. I have much to gain when I pour out my emotions to Him.

As I engage my emotions in the place of prayer;

1. I grow in my dependency and intimacy with the Lord.

2. The Lord works in the turmoil of my heart. I can trust him to meet my need and reshape my emotions to reflect His will.

Dear friend, the next time your heart is in turmoil within you, instead of pushing down your emotions or giving in to them and simply accepting how things are, take them to the Lord in prayer. See them as an invitation to draw nearer to God.