Honoring God Through Emotional Wisdom and Regulation

Devotional

Day 1: Recognize God's Good Design for Emotions and Sin's Damage Through Uncontrolled Emotions

God has created each of us with emotions as a powerful gift, designed to help us relate to others, understand ourselves, and connect with Him. However, just as a powerful car can become dangerous if not controlled, our emotions can lead us astray if we let them take the driver’s seat. While emotions like anger, fear, joy, and sadness are natural and God-given, we must be cautious not to let them dictate our actions in ways that are selfish or harmful. Instead, we are called to recognize both the beauty of God’s design and the reality that sin can twist our emotions, leading to responses that damage relationships and distance us from God’s best for us. [04:34]

Nehemiah 5:6-7 (ESV)
"I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, 'You are exacting interest, each from his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them."

Reflection: When was the last time you noticed an emotion rising up in you—whether anger, fear, joy, or sadness—and paused to consider whether it was leading you toward God’s purposes or away from them?

Day 2: Regulate Your Essential Emotions

Emotions are not meant to be ignored or to rule over us; instead, we are called to regulate them with wisdom and self-control. Like Nehemiah, who paused to take counsel with himself before acting, we too can learn to pause, pray, and seek God’s guidance before responding to emotionally charged situations. This might mean taking a moment before replying to a difficult message, seeking God’s Word for direction, or reaching out to a trusted friend for counsel. By regulating our emotions, we honor God and avoid the pitfalls of rash decisions or hurtful words, allowing our feelings to serve their intended purpose without causing harm. [17:43]

James 1:19-20 (ESV)
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to pause and seek God’s wisdom before responding when you feel emotionally charged?

Day 3: Respond with Appropriate Action

God calls us not only to recognize and regulate our emotions but also to respond with action that reflects His justice, compassion, and truth. Nehemiah’s righteous anger led him to confront injustice and advocate for the oppressed, showing that our emotions can be a catalyst for godly action when aligned with God’s heart. Whether it’s standing up for someone who is mistreated, offering comfort to the hurting, or expressing gratitude in moments of joy, our emotional responses should move us toward actions that honor God and bless others. [31:25]

Nehemiah 5:7-12 (ESV)
"I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, 'You are exacting interest, each from his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, 'We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!' They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, 'The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.' Then they said, 'We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.'"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where God is prompting you to take a specific action in response to an emotion—such as confronting injustice, offering forgiveness, or showing compassion?

Day 4: Avoid the Extremes—Neither Stoicism nor Hyper-Emotionalism

It’s easy to fall into the trap of either suppressing our emotions (stoicism) or letting them run wild (hyper-emotionalism), but God calls us to a balanced, healthy engagement with our feelings. Ignoring emotions can lead to disconnection from God and others, while being ruled by them can result in chaos and regret. Instead, we are invited to engage our emotions wisely, allowing them to inform us without controlling us, and to bring them honestly before God as part of our spiritual growth. [30:00]

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (ESV)
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;"

Reflection: Which extreme do you tend to lean toward—ignoring your emotions or letting them take over—and what is one way you can move toward a more balanced, God-honoring approach today?

Day 5: Bring Every Emotion to God in Faith and Hope

No matter what emotion you are experiencing—joy, sadness, anger, or fear—God invites you to bring it to Him, trusting that He cares for you and desires to meet you in that place. The psalmist models this by speaking honestly to his own soul, choosing to hope in God even when feeling downcast or overwhelmed. As you bring your emotions to God, you can trust that He is redeeming every part of your life, and that His presence is the source of true joy, comfort, and peace. [24:50]

Psalm 42:5-6 (ESV)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar."

Reflection: What emotion are you experiencing most strongly today, and how can you intentionally bring it before God in prayer, asking Him to fill you with hope and trust in His goodness?

Sermon Summary

Emotions are a powerful and essential part of our lives, given to us by God as a gift. They help us understand what matters to us, reveal the state of our souls, and allow us to connect deeply with others and with God. Yet, emotions can also surprise us—sometimes anger, fear, joy, or sadness seem to rise up out of nowhere, catching us off guard. In a world filled with both beauty and brokenness, we are called to honor God with our emotions, not by suppressing or ignoring them, but by engaging them wisely and faithfully.

Looking to the story of Nehemiah, we see a model for how to handle our emotions in a way that honors God. Nehemiah experienced deep anger at the injustice and exploitation of the poor in his community, but instead of reacting rashly, he paused to reflect and seek God’s wisdom. This act of “taking counsel with himself” is a powerful example of emotional regulation—aligning our feelings with God’s truth before taking action. Emotions, like a powerful engine, can drive us toward good or harm depending on how we steward them.

We must recognize both the good design of emotions and the danger of letting them run unchecked. Our hearts, tainted by sin, can deceive us, so we cannot simply “follow our hearts” as the world often suggests. Instead, we are called to regulate our emotions—pausing, praying, seeking God’s Word, and even seeking wise counsel from others. Scripture gives us practical tools for this: being slow to anger, putting our trust in God when afraid, finding fullness of joy in God’s presence, and speaking hope to our souls in times of sadness.

There are two extremes to avoid: stoicism, which ignores emotions, and hyper-emotionalism, which lets emotions rule unchecked. The way of Jesus is to walk the middle path—recognizing, regulating, and then responding with appropriate, God-honoring action. When we experience joy, we give thanks; when we are sad, we remember God’s redemption; when we are angry, we seek justice in line with God’s heart; and when we are afraid, we turn to God in faith. Honoring God with our emotions is a lifelong journey, one that leads us to greater maturity and deeper relationship with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Emotions are a gift from God, designed to help us understand ourselves, relate to others, and connect with God. However, because of sin, our emotions can become distorted and lead us astray if left unchecked. Recognizing both the goodness and the potential danger of our emotions is the first step toward honoring God with them. [04:34]
2. Emotional regulation is a spiritual discipline. Like Nehemiah, we are called to pause, reflect, and seek God’s wisdom before acting on our feelings. This means not letting emotions drive our decisions impulsively, but instead aligning our responses with God’s truth through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel. [17:43]
3. Scripture provides practical guidance for handling our core emotions. For anger, we are to be slow to speak and quick to listen; for fear, we put our trust in God; for joy, we recognize its fullness in God’s presence; and for sadness, we speak hope to our souls. Memorizing and meditating on these verses equips us to respond faithfully in emotional moments. [22:09]
4. Avoiding the extremes of stoicism and hyper-emotionalism is crucial. Ignoring emotions can stunt our spiritual growth and relationships, while letting emotions rule unchecked can lead to chaos and sin. The path of maturity is to engage our emotions honestly, but always under the lordship of Christ, seeking to honor Him in every feeling and response. [30:00]
5. God often calls us to take appropriate action in response to our emotions, especially when they reflect His heart for justice, compassion, or gratitude. Like Nehemiah, we may be moved to confront injustice, comfort the hurting, or celebrate God’s goodness. Our emotional responses, when regulated and surrendered to God, can become powerful instruments for His purposes in the world. [31:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:56] - The Surprising Power of Emotions
[02:24] - Honoring God with Our Emotions
[03:28] - Praying for Wisdom in Troubled Times
[04:34] - God’s Design and Sin’s Damage in Emotions
[07:16] - Personal Stories of Joy, Anger, and Fear
[08:27] - Nehemiah’s Context: Injustice and Hardship
[10:38] - The Problem of Exploitation and God’s Law
[12:45] - Naming and Recognizing Our Emotions
[15:55] - Regulating Emotions: Lessons from Nehemiah
[17:43] - Practical Steps for Emotional Regulation
[22:09] - Scripture for Handling Anger, Fear, Joy, and Sadness
[26:04] - Memorizing God’s Word for Emotional Health
[30:00] - Avoiding Stoicism and Hyper-Emotionalism
[31:25] - Responding with God-Honoring Action
[32:38] - Applying Emotional Wisdom in Daily Life
[34:20] - Turning Fear into Faith
[35:19] - Engaging Emotions in Relationship with God
[36:20] - Living the Better Way: Emotional Maturity in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 5:6-7 (ESV) — > 6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
> 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them.

James 1:19-20 (ESV) — > 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
> 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Psalm 56:3 (ESV) — > When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Observation Questions

In Nehemiah 5:6-7, what was Nehemiah’s initial emotional response to the injustice he witnessed, and what did he do before taking action?
According to James 1:19-20, what are the steps we are told to take when we feel anger rising up?
In Psalm 56:3, what does the psalmist say he does when he is afraid?
The sermon described two “gutters” or extremes in handling emotions. What are they called, and what do they look like?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Nehemiah “took counsel with himself” before confronting the nobles and officials? What might have happened if he had acted immediately on his anger?
The sermon says emotions are like a powerful engine—good but potentially dangerous if not controlled. How does this analogy help us understand the role of emotions in our lives?
According to the sermon, why is it not wise to simply “follow your heart” when making decisions?
How does Scripture guide us to handle core emotions like anger, fear, joy, and sadness differently than the world might suggest?

Application Questions

Think about a recent time when you felt a strong emotion (anger, fear, joy, or sadness). Did you pause to reflect or pray before responding, or did you react immediately? What was the result?
The sermon encourages us to memorize Scripture to help regulate our emotions. Is there a particular verse from today’s study (or another) that you want to commit to memory? How could this help you in a specific emotional situation you face regularly?
Which “gutter” do you tend to fall into more often: ignoring your emotions (stoicism) or letting them rule your actions (hyper-emotionalism)? What is one step you could take this week to walk more in the “middle path” of Jesus?
When you experience anger, how can you discern whether it is “righteous anger” that reflects God’s heart, or selfish anger? What would it look like to take appropriate, God-honoring action in response?
The sermon says that sadness can remind us of God’s redemption and that fear can be an opportunity to trust God. Can you share a time when an emotion led you to a deeper relationship with God? How might you look for God’s presence in your emotions this week?
Is there a relationship in your life where your emotional response has caused harm or distance? What would it look like to seek reconciliation or to respond differently next time?
The sermon describes emotional regulation as a spiritual discipline. What is one practical way you can practice this discipline in your daily routine (e.g., pausing before responding, praying, seeking wise counsel)?

Sermon Clips

Each one of us are hardwired with helpful emotions. Each one of us have been designed by God with emotions that are supposed to be helpful for us. They're God-given. They're things that if we didn't have them, we would struggle to relate well with other people. A lot of times, our emotions are reactions in response to events or situations. [00:08:27] (27 seconds) #GodDesignedHelpfulEmotions

Yes, every fairytale movie that tells you follow your heart and all your dreams will come true and you'll live happily ever after, that's a lie. That's a lie. We can't just follow our heart because our hearts, even within us, can be deceptive. [00:15:12] (18 seconds) #HeartsCanDeceive

For all of us, what this should include is, it should include prayer to God, asking God, God, how would you have me to respond in this? Lord, give me wisdom as I seek to honor you with our emotions. And for all of us, we should also be drawing on God's Word, coming to recognize what is it that God's commanded me to do. [00:19:29] (25 seconds) #PrayForWisdomInEmotion

If you have any one of those as a primary emotion that you struggle with, anger, fear, or sadness, I want you to write down that verse that we had up there before. And I would encourage you to memorize it. Memorize that verse if you want a great pattern for how to memorize a verse. The pattern that I've employed in the past is you sit down and you look at the text, read that verse ten times out loud. Read it ten times out loud. That might take you about five or ten minutes. And then, while not looking at the verse, recite it ten times out loud. And if you do that and then repeat it the next few days, recite it again a couple times over the course of that week, I believe that based on the way God's designed our minds and the fact that repetition is the mother of learning, we'll have that verse locked within our hearts, well, within our minds, and Lord willing, our hearts as well. [00:26:06] (63 seconds) #MemorizeScriptureForEmotions

When you experience joy, here's what I encourage you to do. When you experience joy, remember the pleasure and the delight that God gives to us through his creation, through his promises, and especially through his presence, through who he is. Recognize that and be grateful for it. [00:32:38] (22 seconds) #CelebrateGodsJoyfulGifts

Remember, when you experience sadness, remember the fact that we are living in a fallen world. A fallen world that not only has been corrupted by sin, but now is being redeemed by us. Our Savior who entered into this fallen world to experience the hardships that we experience, to go to the cross in our place, to rise again defeating sin and death and every negative power of emotion so that we might know him and be with him for eternity. So let sadness be a reminder that God's redemption is taking place. [00:33:00] (43 seconds) #SadnessRemindsOfRedemption

When you experience in your life anger, first if it's anger that's a selfish anger just because you didn't get your way, confess that to God. Confess that selfishness and ask for God to be at work in your heart making your desires his desires. Making the things that make you angry only the things that make him angry. And when you do experience that righteous anger, mirroring the values of God. When you're angry about something wrong or unjust, ask God if there's an action step he is calling you to take. Is that your Nehemiah moment when you go and stand up against the things that are wrong in our world? [00:33:43] (45 seconds) #TransformAngerThroughGod

Remember God's good design for our emotions. Regulate those emotions that God's given to us and then respond with an action that is appropriate for a follower of Jesus. And as we do those things, we live as a more fully mature disciple of Jesus, living the better way, better emotionally. And as we do that, we know it is for His glory and for our joy. [00:36:07] (29 seconds) #LiveEmotionallyMatureForGlory

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