How should I respond to my feelings?

1 Samuel 1:10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

Job 7:11“I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.”

Psalm 9:1-2I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 62:8O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 102:1-2Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.

We should honestly tell God our feelings. Pouring out our heart to him can be an act of faith and devotion.

Psalm 31:24So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Psalm 43:5Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

We can respond to feelings of discouragement and sadness by turning to God in faith. He gives hope for the future.

1 Kings 10:9“Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”

Hosea 11:8“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.”

1 John 4:7-8Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

We were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and God’s emotions are foundational to his nature. Emotion is good and natural. We should recognize that we are emotional beings and that God made us beings of emotion. Our feelings are a natural part of our God-given life.

Ezra 3:12-13Many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.

Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

We should be respectful of others’ feelings, even when they differ from our own.