Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #12 — Emotional

Picture: Counsel #12 — Emotional CI 141.1

At some point, we’ve all seen a movie about a woman falling in love with a “real man.” Societal “norms” often teach men that showing emotions is weakness, that tears are unmanly, and that sensitivity makes you soft. CI 141.2

Take a moment to compare the men you see portrayed in movies, TV shows, or Hollywood against the men in the Bible, and you’ll see that Scripture tells a completely different story. Jesus, the most perfect Man to walk this earth, wept.^[151] He actually grieved and felt compassion for the state of humanity. Being emotionally aware is a godly expectation, not being emotionally suppressed. God created men in His image, including with His full range of emotions. Suppressing what you feel doesn’t make you stronger. It just hides parts of you God wants to heal or use. Anger, sadness, and fear aren’t emotions that are bad in themselves. What matters is whether you allow your feelings to influence truth — God’s word vs how you feel. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and do not sin,” meaning even difficult emotions must be handled with self-control and filtered through God’s lens, the Bible. Whether you’re comforting a friend or confessing your own pain, real strength is found in emotional honesty paired with spiritual maturity.^[152] CI 141.3

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18 NIV CI 141.4

“We are not to make our feelings a test by which to discern whether we are in or out of favor with God...” Ellen White in Living by Principle, p. 31 CI 141.5

Reflect: Are you scared of your own emotions? CI 141.6