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Words from the
Honeycomb - Blog

Emotional Renewal

3/7/2020

14 Comments

 
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Photo by Roxxie Blackham on Unsplash
I can become emotionally ragged if I’m not careful. The cares of life toss me to and fro, battering me into the ground. I swing between trying to shove everything down and bursting into tears. When I examine my emotions as I go instead of letting them build, I can better manage my feelings and obey God’s call for my life.  

Here are some of my top picks to help process my thoughts and be emotionally healthy:

  1. Prayer Journal. One of my favorite outlets to gain emotional renewal is journaling. Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (NKJV). When I journal, I pour out all my fears, failures, worries, and woes onto the page. The act of writing them down makes them more manageable because they aren’t swirling around in my head. I lay my hurts before the Lord and listen for His response. He reminds me that He shades me from the blasts of heat that threaten to destroy me (Isaiah 4:6).
  2. Read the Psalms. When I need to see God’s grace and provision, I delve deep into the psalms. David knew angst and wasn’t afraid to tell God about his anxieties. He hid in caves and fled from Saul who kept trying to kill him. When enemies threaten to destroy me, I strengthen myself with verses like Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (NKJV). God fights my battles and will triumph over my enemies. My job is to worship and rest in His strength.
  3. Laugh. Laughter can loosen the grip of stress on the heart. When I am down, I watch sitcoms from the 80s and early 90s that make me laugh. Scientists say that even if you have to force yourself to laugh, it leads to real laughter. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (KJV). Laughter is healthy. It releases endorphins, helps circulate blood around the body, reduces stress hormones, and relaxes our bodies. Broken spirits can lead to physical ailments. Take time to enjoy a healthy laugh today.
  4. Cry. Yes, I list crying right after laughing. Both have benefits. Crying releases some of the toxins associated with stress from the body, and crying for a long time releases endorphins that help dull pain. Psalm 126:6 says, “He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him” (NKJV). When we weep, we have a choice. We can shrivel up in anger and harden our hearts to never feel pain again, or we can use those tears to water our character and grow patience and trust in the Father. Jesus weeps with us and carries our tears in a bottle. Psalm 30:5, says “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (NKJV). It’s okay to cry. This too shall pass.

God cares about every aspect of our beings. He knows that emotional health enables us to serve Him from a place of strength. If you need an emotional checkup, God will join you in the journey to renew your soul. Psalm 139:23-25 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (NKJV). Ask Him to clear out the junk from your heart so it can be filled with His deep love. The Lord will reveal His truths, remove our worries, and renew our emotions so He can use us for His kingdom purposes.  

  • Do you routinely examine your emotions or let them run wild?
  • What helps you process your emotions?
  • What outlets will you try this week to renew your spirit?
14 Comments
J.D. Wininger link
3/8/2020 08:00:31 pm

What a heartfelt, honest, and open post Ms. Joanna. I too wish I did a better job of keeping my emotions in check. In my case, I'm prone to emotional outbursts that (especially as a man) I feel I should keep subdued and controlled. Yet, I sometimes wonder if God is more pleased when I let them out rather than letting them fester and grow inside me. Lots to think about. Thank you for sharing some of your coping mechanisms.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/9/2020 07:39:53 pm

I think that releasing our stress before it builds into bitterness or resentment is important. Sometimes I try to stuff things down, but they always surface eventually.

Reply
Barbara Latta link
3/9/2020 06:43:21 pm

I like all the items on your list and I do those as well but I also relax by doodling and playing on Pinterest. I look up doodles on Pinterest and draw In my Bullet Journal. That helps get my mind off hard things and also stimulates creativity.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/9/2020 07:38:49 pm

I like that you find doodles you like and copy them so you have them yourself. That definitely stimulates creativity. Thanks for sharing.

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Katherine Pasour link
3/9/2020 08:18:55 pm

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning" is so comforting--to know that God is always with us, no matter what.. In fact, you've chosen several of my favorite scriptures in your message. Like you, Psalms bring me peace in times of trial. I admit to choosing laughter and crying as well.God gifted us with emotions for a reason!

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/13/2020 07:19:18 pm

Joy comes in the morning! What a promise to cling to when night closes around your soul. God is good to us.

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K.A. Wypych link
3/10/2020 10:24:55 pm

I, too, struggle with this. I love the suggestion of prayer...this daily time has been beneficial in feeling God's presence in my life.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/13/2020 07:16:54 pm

Thanks for suggesting prayer. That definitely allows me to take a step back and balance my emotions. Good idea.

Reply
Karisa link
3/11/2020 01:15:33 pm

Laughter was surprising after my son's death. I found tears often succumbed to deep soul cleansing laughter. Laughter came when I remembered my son and God correctly.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/13/2020 07:17:35 pm

So glad that God gave you the gift of laughter even in a dark time.

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Connie Wohlford link
3/13/2020 08:53:37 am

These are wonderful suggestions. I like that you included laughing and crying and explained why they are helpful.
Great post.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
3/13/2020 07:18:14 pm

God gave us a range of emotions, and there are times and seasons for all of them.

Reply
LuAnn K. Edwards link
3/14/2020 01:54:40 pm

Enjoyed your post, Joanna! Four great ways to deal with what's happening around us and inside of us.

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Joshua J Masters link
3/14/2020 03:01:09 pm

I love that you pointed out the need to laugh AND cry. Our emotions are an important part of how God made us and it's vital that we do not push our emotions down. Thank you for this post.

Reply



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    Author

    Joanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over ten years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program.  She is passionate about discipleship and helping people know God better. Joanna enjoys coffee, traveling, and reading, and currently lives in Florida.

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