3 results for tag: Emotions of the Heart

The Heart of Joy

Joy—do you neglect this fruit of the Spirit like I do? Jesus has spoken to my heart, challenging me to a life of greater joy. It’s a hard word for me, I will admit it. He knows that. So, He gives me days to breathe, converse with Him, relax, be, rest, recuperate from sorrows—and yes, to summon joy to my heart little by little. Just as He kindly challenges me, He also provides the means for me to look to Him and receive the joy that He gives. As bits of joy appear in my life like little stars of glory, I start to wonder what it would look like for my joy to be full and radiant! What does misplaced joy look like in your life? You see, my joy is ...

The Heart of Fear

Fear. It’s a funny thing. We talk about having a healthy fear of things being good. Knowing not to touch a hot stovetop or a toddler who is timid about just jumping in a pool is a good, healthy fear. Fear is an asset in dangerous situations. But fear can cause us to sin and keep us in bondage. So let’s talk about fear. During my pregnancy with my son, I had no fear or reason to have fear. I already had two easy pregnancies resulting in healthy daughters, so I assumed it would be the same with my son. That was not the case as he was stillborn at 37 weeks due to a 1 in 10 million amniotic band cord “accident.” Fear didn’t keep me from trying ...

The Heart of Grief

Is grief an appropriate emotion for a Christian to display? The short answer is: yes. In response to grief I often hear some version of the phrase, “We miss our loved one, but we know where they are and we will see them again.” While this truth can certainly anchor our hope, I think sometimes this phrase can unknowingly revoke a person’s right to grieve and feel the true weight of loss. Grief is an entirely natural, normal, and dare I say good response to loss. We see it modeled many times in the Bible, even by God himself. But just like any emotion, it has the ability to run rampant and take over our minds and hearts. Grief is an emotion we ...