The Bible Offers Excellent Advice For The Times We Struggle

We talked about our minds last week, specifically aligning our thoughts with Christ’s thoughts. Along with our minds, our will and emotions are equally important to our overall health and wellness. Why?  Remember, our mental health is the way our thoughts affect our feelings, which in turn affect our behaviors, and ultimately our lives. We have the power to make decisions according to our free will and our often-unpredictable emotions can play a big role in doing so. 

God’s Word once again offers us guidance in managing our emotions and remaining obedient to God. In Galatians 5:22-23 and Colossians 3:12-14, we see positive emotions highlighted – love, gentleness, meekness, etc. – to help guide us. In Joshua 1:9, we see the powerful positive emotions of strength and courage contrasted with the equally powerful negative emotions of fear and discouragement. Negative emotions have the power to take control, but not when we harness God’s presence in our lives. 

Interestingly enough, we are not alone. During His time on earth, Jesus experienced powerful emotions like sorrow, fear, and love. The Israelites were overcome with fear and discouragement when God told them to go into the land He had promised. Moses struggled with anger issues as he led the Israelites in the wilderness. Mary and Joseph stressed and worried when 12-year-old Jesus was missing. 

The good news is the Bible offers excellent advice for the times we struggle. In Philippians 4:6, we are instructed, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.” Verse 7 follows with a divine promise, “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

This week let’s remember that everything we face whether negative emotions or mental and physical health challenges can be brought to God in prayer and He will provide guidance and peace, greater than we can imagine or understand.