“We’re all starving for compassion, and Jesus wants to provide it. When Jesus walked the earth, story after story of His ministry confirmed how much He cared about each person He came across. . . . All throughout Scripture, we see evidence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit feeling lots and lots of feelings.”- Jennifer Allen
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”- 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
In Chapter 4 (“The Truth About Your Feelings”) of Untangle Your Emotions, Jennifer Allen notes that emotions are not meant to control us. Instead, emotions inform, alert, and connect us. Furthermore, emotions remind us that we’re alive. And they help us make sense of the world around us.
However, Jennifer counsels, at different parts of your life your rivers shrink and narrow. As a result, you’re fragile, not yourself. But that’s okay! Most significantly, each time your river presents an opportunity to come back to Jesus — over and over again.
Thus, Jennifer offers these words of encouragement and hope:
“If God is an unchangeable eternal being who feels, then we know that emotions were not created. Emotions have always been, and emotions always will be. Because of this, emotions are simply another facet of what it means to be made in the image of God. . . .
When we understand that God has a purpose and a plan for them, emotions are actually good — and not just some of them, like peace and joy, but all of them. All emotions are good.
Aren’t you blown away by this? A God who feels all the feelings and does not sin, He appropriates all these feelings rightly.”
In conclusion, the author advises, let this thought sink in. Emotions are not the sin; it’s what we do with them that is the sin.
Today’s question: What most helps when you find yourself starving for compassion? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Numb actually sounds appealing?”
