As we dive deeper into our feelings, I’m leaving you with some verses that correspond to those feelings. Keep in mind, all feelings are built in prompts—none are good or bad as they were created.

We are responsible for where we let them take us (thought and behavior) over which WE HAVE CHOICE. John 10 tells us Satan’s plan is to steal our freedom and devour us. We get devoured when we give power to the father of lies and his words against us.

Our body is a spirit with a body as a shell. Also remember the soul is included in this being, which is the place our emotions live. Remember there are five basic emotions which exist in the human soul: Sad, Mad, Glad, Bad and Scared. Let’s start with fear, which we call “Scared”. All emotions live on a spectrum. But simply put, scared is scared no matter how you say it.

Scared

(hyper vigilant and alert of threat)

I think of scared as the red flag of being alert. The body is wired to protect itself. Sometimes God tells us to flee, and other times he tells us to fight. All body systems get activated with a job to “get in” [the battle], or “get out” and take refuge! This is the essential concept of ‘Fight or Flight’ - which can ride on a scale. At the least, fight or flight helps us to step back from a situation and recognize the need for strategy and alertness. It helps us to detach in a healthy way.

The problem is when we sense danger due to lies. A false alarm. This is Anxiety. Its inspired by distorted beliefs planted by our greatest adversary.

Sometimes we are told in the Bible to put on the armor of God and to be alert for the enemy who comes to attack. There are times where people fall into the trap of vigilance however, and remain stuck with impairing and even irrational worry.

David, in Psalms 55 got stuck in actual worry. Many believe it was because he recognized that a very close friend was betraying him and their people. In this chapter paces while he sorts through the ‘stuckness’ of his fear. He then gets back aligned with the truth; casting his anxiety on God. This allowed him to make decisions about his friendship, boundaries and ultimately, his value; in this case reviewing his calling in regards to the kingdom he was a part of.

Dueteronomy 31:6-8
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you’. Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed’.”
2 Timothy 1:17
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self discipline.”

Fear would have looked like believing lies here. Moses realized yesterday was not capable of taking new land at 120 yrs old. He was alert and aware and God told Him he would appoint Joshua. To be alert and feel scared is to note where you need safety. God provided it here with strategy. Worry would have gotten the people nothing.

Worry is irrational and it’s leaning out of guidance (and Gods whispering voice) that leads.

The TRUTH IS, that God is always with you. Christians don’t die. We have no reason to remain stuck in fear. Being stressed is to be alert. It need not go beyond that if we can seek God for which route keeps us safe... Abiding.

Sad

(grief of loss)

Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

[We are made content when we mourn because we will be comforted.

When we are reminded that God has our needs and even wants covered, our joy returns. But we must stop and heal when we feel pain. By seeking comfort originally meant to be given through Hod and His power in men]

Glad

(expectations met or exceeded)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

We know he works all things for good for us who love Him! Our hearts were meant to praise with joy. Joy brings us to reconnect with God originally. This is why perhaps we seek that connection from people so naturally. We want intimacy when we feel pleased. He knows we can satisfy that need with one another when we walk in fellowship. We are called to do so. God moves through His people all of the time. Just like a person laying hands to heal another is through God’s power, so is intimacy and validation from others.

Isaiah 55:12
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Proverbs 14:10
“The heart knows it’s own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.”
Philippians 1:7
“For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”
Luke 24:52
“And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy...”

Shame

(awareness of disconnect from love)

Shame is referred to in the story of Moses with a veil over his face in 2 Cor. 3:18 and the veil is lifted with Christ. We don’t need to fear man or the failure to meet the law any longer. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Also discussed in Psalms 40:12...we fear looking up to Him when overwhelmed

“But—we are good—no matter what we do. We just are!”

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 8
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

We are valid and acceptable. That’s the need behind shame: to review our value.

We get a conviction, we confess and we review our value which purifies our heart. This makes us happy. Happy are the pure in heart.

Anger

(stuck or violated)

“Righteous anger doesn’t seek to hurt. Love doesn’t retaliate. Righteous anger stems from love because it recognizes that someone’s actions or words stray from the path of righteousness. And love desires to bring someone back to the truth. Expressing righteous anger should be a last resort, though, not a first. Even though Jesus flipped tables, He spent a great deal of His ministry turning the other cheek.” Source

I don’t know about you, but my flesh is not personally concerned with others' status of “righteousness”. But what DOES fire me up, is knowing that someone is losing connection with a God who accepts them fully and who will fight for them. When I see someone being wronged (whether by satan’s lies or mistreatment from others), my gut instinct is to protect them. Righteousness is about being “right standing with God”. We are righteous immediately upon salvation. So it’s really not about being “good enough” or choosing right. It’s about helping people see that they are stepping out of this position and they are in danger. Healthy anger seeks to call out truth with tender, yet firm, love.

Matthew 5:38-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”

Righteous anger doesn’t refrain from self-control, rather it tries to speak the truth in love. Although we are called to speak the truth, we are to do so in gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:5)

Sitting with anger longer than a day = resentment/stuck

Ephesians 4:26
In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry

This is why anger needs to be vented and seek change. It must be released. Expectations must be stated. Change can happen—even if you can’t get it from one you love.

James 1:19-[last resort]
Most prominently, God shows righteous anger (1 Kings 11:9, 10) whenever his people stray after idols and pursue paths of wickedness (Violation to the message of Christ and to God Himself).
Nehemiah 5:6
Nehemiah experiences righteous anger when he discovers the abuse of poor people in his community.
Psalm 7:11
God himself feels righteous anger.
Psalm 145:8
God is slow to anger
Job 7:11
Let me be free to express my anguish. Let me be free to speak out of the bitterness of my soul. (Vent)
Micah 6:8
God calls us to seek justice as well as mercy.

Be angry and sin not.

Spend time with God. The more we realize how much grace God has extended to us, the less we harbor anger and resentment against others. (Matthew 18:21-35). Jesus calls us to forgive because he first forgave us. Source

Avoid resentment. When any emotion gets stuck we fall into lies and it becomes a stronghold (this can manifest as depression, resentment, anxiety, mania, and insecurity).

Have you ever heard of the parable about debtor being forgiven by King? But when he doesn’t forgive someone who owes him a debt, the King hands him over to the torturers. (Demons of unforgiveness). This is a spirit the Lord put him under to bring him to repentance (Matthew 18:21-35). God always seeks to bring His people back to Himself. This may require some suffering in order to ultimately save our souls.

“If we think we are experiencing righteous anger, we should exemplify redemptive acts.” - Hope Bolinger

Anger speaks truth in love. We target the behavior NOT the person.

Utilizing What God Gave Us

Turns out, you have all that you need [emotions and support] to recognize that you have an unmet need. With these signals, you can abide in the Lord and His relational provision to help you get there. The stuck emotion will dissipate, and you will find peace once again.

Emotional Navigation System: How to Abide Utilizing Emotion (Week Two)