When people seek counsel for various issues, emotions of some sort are frequently front and center—the person has an “anger problem,” is depressed, fearful, or anxious. Someone has been offended greatly and wants to forgive, but just doesn’t feel that she can forgive. Or someone doesn’t feel that God loves him.
But we also observe that different people often respond with very different emotions to the same circumstance. Two people lose their jobs—one is anxious and the other is not. Two people have someone cut them off in traffic—one is angry and the other is calm. The question, then, is why different people respond to similar circumstances with different emotions. Can we control our emotions or somehow change them? From where do emotions arise?
Our emotions do not arise in a vacuum. They don’t “just happen,” but are driven by what we believe and what we value. Because of that, understanding and believing biblical truth will drive our emotions in a way that glorifies God. While a number of doctrinal truths will affect our emotions, I will cite three that have major impact in the way we respond to events and circumstances of life: God’s sovereignty, God’s goodness, our sanctification.
God’s Sovereignty
In Mark 4:35-41, we read the account of when Jesus calmed the sea. Certainly, at least some of the disciples in the boat were experienced fishermen, so one can assume that they had been in rough seas before. But this was different—the boat was actually filling with water. The possibility that they might sink was real. Fear would seem to have been a reasonable emotional reaction, but Jesus chastised them for being afraid. The disciples had not realized that the One Who was sovereign over nature was with them in the boat.
So it is for us. The One who is sovereign over the universe—who “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11)—promises to be with us as we pass through troubled waters (Is. 43:2). In circumstances that make us fearful or anxious, we may calm our emotions as we remind ourselves and meditate upon the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.
But let’s not think of God’s sovereignty as some abstract fatalism. As Brian Borgman puts it, “we’re not talking about truth as an abstraction; we are talking about truth as it exists in the person of God.”[1] In difficult times, we can picture ourselves being in the boat with Jesus. We can meditate on the fact that God is with us (Ps. 139:7)—He’s both personal (Matt. 10:29-31) and sovereign (Ps. 115:3).
God’s Goodness
In Psalm 31, David expresses grief, sorrow, and sighing (vv. 9–10), but as he meditates on God’s abundant goodness (v. 19), his sorrow turns to rejoicing: “Love the Lord, all you his saints!” (v. 23). Just like David, our sorrow can turn to joy when we not only remember His sovereignty, but His goodness as well. If we grasp God’s goodness, then our emotions will reflect that understanding, even in difficult circumstances. We will be able to trust that He’s up to something good even if we can’t see it right now. When we are secure in His goodness, we interpret life’s events differently.
Instead of despairing as to why something is happening to us, we can calmly trust Him and rest in the knowledge that He actively and thoughtfully works for our best interests. He is purposeful and intentional, not unkind, when He allows troubles to occur. Like the one-year-old child who doesn’t understand why her father brings her to the doctor’s office to experience the pain of vaccinations, we can be assured that even though what we’re experiencing hurts, it is from a good and loving Father for a good and loving purpose.
Our Sanctification
Paul, James, and Peter all tell us to have joy in the midst of our suffering, and they each give a reason. Paul tells us that suffering results in endurance, character, and hope (Rom. 5:3-5). James tells us that suffering produces steadfastness and maturity (James 1:2-4). Peter tells us that suffering reveals the genuineness of our faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Each one of the Apostles is telling us that God is actively working spiritual growth in us through the things we suffer.
But how can we “count it all joy” in the midst of our suffering? The key is a right interpretation of the truths of our circumstances. Often our interpretation fosters a sense of personal injury, hurt, or bitterness. But when we view our circumstances through God’s eyes, our interpretation changes from one of personal injury to one of personal growth in Christ.
This will not comfort us unless we turn our eyes away from what is happening and instead look to who controls what is happening. When we do that, our circumstances may not become any more pleasant, but our emotional responses will change. When we consider who is in control, we know that our suffering isn’t the result of random forces, but from the hand of a loving God. Instead of anger, fear, worry, or depression in the midst of our suffering, we can have peace—and even joy—when we see the spiritual growth that God brings into our lives.
More Than Three
These three doctrines bring us a great amount of comfort and drive our emotions toward peace and joy, regardless of what we’re going through. But there are so many more wonderful doctrinal truths in the Bible! When we understand and apply these truths to the circumstances of life, we see our loving and personal God at work and can sing along with David, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing” (Ps. 30:11).
[1] Brian Borgman, Feelings and Faith (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2009), 68.
