Aligning Our Emotions with Jesus

This message is part of a two-part reflection. Today we will focus specifically on emotions, while next time we will address the alignment of our spirituality with Christ.

We live in a world that offers us a seemingly endless array of behavioral models and definitions of success, especially through social media. Often we find ourselves inspired by influencers, coaches, and public figures, but we must remember that Christ is our ideal model in every area of life, including our emotional health.

The Emotions of Jesus – An Example for Us

The foundational text for this reflection is John 11:35:

"Jesus wept."

This is the shortest verse in the Bible, yet it carries immense depth about the emotions of Christ. The scene takes place at the death of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus. He knew He was about to raise him, yet even so, He felt the pain of loss deeply and wept. This teaches us that feeling emotions is part of our humanity and is not a sign of weak spirituality.

We often suppress our feelings because we think we must be strong at all times. But Jesus never denied His emotions. He grieved, rejoiced, felt anger, and expressed love in a genuinely human way. If Christ, being perfect, expressed His emotions, then we too should learn to handle ours in a healthy manner.

What Are Emotions?

Emotions are our body's responses to internal or external stimuli. They involve three main dimensions:

1. Physiological – Changes in the body (accelerated heartbeat, sweating, butterflies in the stomach, etc.).
2. Behavioral – How we respond to these emotions (crying, smiling, fleeing, facing).
3. Cognitive – How our mind interprets these emotions.

God created us with emotions, and they serve a purpose. The problem is not in feeling them, but in how we handle them.

The Basic Emotions and How Jesus Expressed Them

Science identifies several basic emotions:

• Joy: Jesus delighted in children (Matthew 19:14) and at celebrations (John 2:1-11).
• Sadness: Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35).
• Fear: In Gethsemane, Jesus was deeply distressed (Matthew 26:37-38).
• Anger: Jesus was indignant at the money changers in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13).
• Disgust: He rebuked the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matthew 23).

Jesus expressed emotions, but never allowed them to lead Him into sin. His example teaches us to recognize and express our feelings without being controlled by them.

What We Should Not Do with Our Emotions?

1. Suppress them – Bottling up feelings can turn us into a pressure cooker ready to explode.
2. Deny them – Pretending everything is fine when it is not can create frustration and distance in relationships.
3. Project them onto others – Assuming everyone feels the same as we do, or transferring our pain to others, can cause conflict.
4. Be controlled by them – Emotions are temporary, and we must exercise control over how we respond to them.

How to Align Our Emotions with Jesus?

1. Be aware of our emotions – Acknowledge what we feel without guilt or shame.
2. Pray and bring our emotions to God – As Jesus did in Gethsemane.
3. Seek balance between spirituality and emotions – We need an authentic relationship with God, without masking our feelings.
4. Express them in a healthy way – Share with trusted people, seek counsel, and allow God to heal our souls.

Conclusion

Jesus was not a cold, calculating man — nor was He a slave to His emotions. He expressed feelings without being governed by them. We too need to find that balance, allowing the Lord to align our souls with His heart.

May we pursue this alignment daily, living with healthy emotions and hearts anchored in the truth of Christ.