Own Your Feelings
Own Your Feelings
You knew it was coming right? We can’t just write down our feelings and let them get the best of us -especially if those feelings are anxious, oppressing, or depressing. Even if the feelings are joyful, we need to own them. Maybe you grew up in a home where you weren’t allowed to express feelings. Maybe you feel as if you don’t deserve to own feelings, as if they are unholy or ungodly. If you didn’t already, check out episode 123 of The Whole House Podcast – “Having a Healthy Relationship Yourself When You are in a Codependent Relationship.” I think it is common in Christian circles for us to believe we should stuff our feelings. I used to believe that my feelings didn’t matter. If you struggle with owning your feelings, take a look at the Psalms. In “What the Psalms Do” on Desiring God, Tony says:
“One of the reasons the Psalms are deeply loved by so many Christians is that they give expression to an amazing array of emotions. Listen to this list of emotions I pulled together:”
I pulled a few from his list:
Loneliness: “I am lonely and afflicted” (Psalms 25:16).
Sorrow: “My life is spent with sorrow” (Psalms 31:10)
Shame: “Shame has covered my face” (Psalms 44:15)
Desire: “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted”
Brokenheartedness: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalms 34:18).
You can find the whole list here.
Today your assignment is to own your feelings by going through the list and writing down what they are. Be specific and feel free to go the extra mile and copy down a scripture or two from the list!