Do you often find yourself worried, sad, angry, anxious, or even depressed?
If you are a believer, this can sometimes feel confusing. The Bible speaks so beautifully about peace, joy, love, hope, comfort, and assurance. You may wonder, If God promises these emotions, why do I still struggle with negative ones?
The truth is, emotions are not bad. Emotions are signals. They are symptoms that reveal what is happening inside your heart and mind.
Think about it this way. When someone is sick, they may develop a fever. The fever feels uncomfortable, but it is not the enemy. The fever is a symptom showing that the body is fighting an infection. In the same way, difficult emotions often reveal deeper thoughts, fears, or beliefs that need healing.
Emotions Are Shaped by Thoughts and Mental Pictures
Many of our emotions are connected to the thoughts we entertain and the mental images those thoughts create.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Our thoughts are powerful. They quietly shape how we feel, how we respond, and even how we see God and ourselves.
For a long time, I struggled with fear at night. I prayed many times asking God to remove the fear. But the fear kept returning. It was not until I began intentionally replacing negative thoughts with truth-filled thoughts that something shifted.
I realized fear was feeding on the pictures in my mind. Once the pictures changed, my emotions began to change too.
Identifying Your Dominant Negative Emotion
If you desire thriving emotions, start here.
Prayerfully ask yourself:
What emotion do I struggle with most?
Is it fear?
Anxiety?
Sadness?
Anger?
Hopelessness?
Do not judge yourself for it. Invite the Holy Spirit into the process.
John 16:13 reminds us that the Holy Spirit guides us into truth. He is gentle and faithful in revealing the root behind our emotional struggles.
Ask Him to help you identify the dominant thought connected to your emotion.
Allow the Holy Spirit to Replace the Mental Pictures
Let us take anxiety about death as an example.
When someone fears death, their thoughts often create vivid mental pictures. They may imagine accidents, sickness, or sudden loss. These images increase anxiety and make fear feel overwhelming.
When you invite the Holy Spirit into that space, He may begin to replace those pictures with truth and hope. He may show you a picture of yourself growing old. You may see yourself surrounded by grandchildren, tending animals, enjoying peaceful mornings, or sharing laughter with loved ones over a cup of coffee.
A picture is powerful. It carries emotional weight. When God gives you new pictures filled with His promises, they begin to transform how you feel.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has thoughts toward us, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope.
Choosing What You Focus On
There is a partnership in emotional healing. God reveals truth, but we choose where to focus.
When negative thoughts return, you can choose to entertain them or you can choose to focus on the truth God has shown you.
For me, fear of the dark occasionally tries to return. But now, when fear comes, I intentionally picture Jesus with me. I remind myself that He is present.
Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
When I focus on His presence, peace floods my heart and fear loses its power.
The Secret to Thriving Emotions
Thriving emotions are not about suppressing negative feelings. They are about allowing God to heal the thoughts and images that fuel them.
Thriving emotions grow when you:
• Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal emotional roots
• Identify the dominant thoughts behind your emotions
• Replace negative mental pictures with God inspired truth
• Consistently choose to focus on God’s promises
Galatians 5:22 reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. These emotions and heart states grow naturally when our inner world aligns with God’s truth.
A Gentle Reflection
Today, take a quiet moment and ask:
Lord, what emotions have been dominating my heart?
What thoughts are feeding those emotions?
What truth and pictures do You want to give me instead?
He is faithful to answer.
Your emotions are not your enemy. They may simply be invitations into deeper healing, deeper truth, and deeper intimacy with God.
If you feel stuck in overwhelming emotions and desire guidance in walking through healing with God, please know you do not have to walk alone.
If this message spoke to your heart and you would like support in understanding your emotions, renewing your thoughts, and learning how to partner with the Holy Spirit in your healing journey, I would be honored to walk alongside you.
You are welcome to reach out through the contact form on this website. Simply share what you are going through, and I will prayerfully respond.
Healing is possible. Peace is possible. And God deeply cares about your emotional wellbeing.