One reason emotions have gotten such a bad rap is due to the correlation people make between how they feel and what they do.  On one side people have committed lewd acts, selfish endeavors, and calculated revenge all “because they felt like it.”  On the other side are those who have made “because I don’t feel like it” into an excuse to stop living.

Simply put, at their extremes, these statements become a defense for disbelief, disobedience to the Lord.

The key is recognizing that the emotion did not cause the disbelief (thought), even if it did influence the extreme action. 

But, again, emotions are not bad.  They just need to be regulated.

The problem is most of us have never been taught how to properly regulate our emotions.  Usually, we tend to one of two extremes.  We dismiss theme like Elsa and believe we need to “conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.”  Or, we act out because we feel deeply but don’t know how to take that intensity and turn it into something useful.  So, we react, explode, we reinforce the idea that it’s better to not feel, to not let our emotions show.

I am convinced there is a better way.

A longer way, yes.  A less “a + b = c” kind of way.  But a way in which we can escape the cycle of “why does this always happen to me” and enter into a process of growth – dare I say even sanctification.