“In the words of a broken heart, it’s just emotion that’s taken me over.” (Bee Gees, “Emotion,” 1978)
We all know emotions are a part of life, and usually we do our best to keep them under control. However, I’m sure many women understand when I say that sometimes control goes out the window, and our emotions seem to simply take over!
If we’re talking about pleasant emotions—joy, love, and excitement—that takeover can be a good and enjoyable thing. But have you ever been overwhelmed with unpleasant emotions like anger, fear, worry, depression, loneliness? It can be frightening when these emotions are let loose and we’re left feeling like our hearts and lives are in tatters.
I’ve found in my own life that I sometimes like those bad emotions. I feel like I DESERVE to feel them! That I have a RIGHT to feel them! But, unfortunately, they always lead me down a path that leads to misery. And if I allow myself to stay on that path too long, I end up broken-hearted.
I’ve found in my own life that I sometimes like those bad emotions. I feel like I DESERVE to feel them! That I have a RIGHT to feel them! But, unfortunately, they always lead me down a path that leads to misery. And if I allow myself to stay on that path too long, I end up broken-hearted.
So, I have to make a choice. Am I going to give up my right to feel those negative emotions, or am I going to allow the Holy Spirit to take me over and bring healing? God is the ONLY one who can truly mend a broken heart. Only He can take our bad emotions and bring healing and wholeness so we can experience joy and peace. I’d MUCH rather experience those wonderful emotions, wouldn’t you?
So, the next time you start to feel those negative emotions take you over, remember that you don’t have to be a victim! Let the Holy Spirit take over instead, and trust in Him to bring you peace, wholeness, and joy again.
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Q: Why do you think Christians sometimes have a “smile and pretend it’s all fine” attitude toward depression, loneliness, and other painful emotions?
A: I think it is hard for Christians to really “own” these emotions. They know they are not supposed to feel this way—I mean, the victorious Christian life isn’t about loneliness and depression—so they tend to put on a happy face and deny the negative feelings. But that plan never works.
It’s far better to acknowledge the pain, bring it to the Lord, and let Him show you the source of the problem and the biblical remedy so we can experience the love, joy, and peace promised to us as God’s children.
Q: What makes Runaway Emotions different from the many self-help books currently available?
A: Runaway Emotions is different in that it traces the emotional pain to the source of the problem. Since man is made in the image of God, negative emotions reveal a break and a departure from his God-given design. When people discover the reason they feel the way they do, they are then able to pinpoint the real issue in question and deal biblically and successfully with the source rather than the symptom.
Q: Will this book give personal examples of how you or others have worked through difficult emotions?
A: I use lots of stories from the Bible, my life, and everyday life in the book. I show how great men of God like Elijah, David,Paul, and Jonah dealt with depression, guilt, discontentment, and anger. My goal in writing Runaway Emotions is to help all people, from the greatest to the least, easily see and grasp the truth presented so they can find the path to victory in their own lives. Stories and illustrations are a key to achieving this goal.
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