The Bible shows that emotions are a natural part of life and gives us examples of people feeling joy, sorrow, and anger. Rather than ignoring feelings, Scripture encourages us to understand and express them healthily. Learning what the Bible says about emotions can help us handle them wisely.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Self-Care
What Does The Bible Say About Emotions And Feelings
Psalm 34:17-18
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
This verse brings comfort to those who are experiencing emotional pain. It assures us that God hears our cries and is present in our times of sorrow. It reminds us that God is near to the brokenhearted and offers salvation and healing to those who are crushed in spirit.
It is a reminder that we can turn to God in our times of emotional distress, knowing that He will provide comfort and deliverance from our troubles.
Proverbs 14:13
“Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.”
This verse acknowledges the complexity of our emotions. It reminds us that even amidst laughter and joy, our hearts can still ache, and moments of rejoicing can be followed by grief. It serves as a reminder that our emotions can be multifaceted, and it is okay to experience a range of feelings.
It teaches us to be compassionate towards others, realizing that their outward display of happiness may not always reflect the pain they may be carrying within.
Psalm 42:11
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
In times of emotional turmoil, this verse encourages us to question our emotions and redirect our focus towards God. It prompts us to put our hope in Him and choose to praise Him, regardless of how we may be feeling. It reminds us that God, as our Savior, has the power to lift us out of our emotional lows and bring us comfort and peace.
This verse reminds us to trust in God’s faithfulness and goodness even when our emotions may be overwhelming.
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
This verse offers solace to those who are burdened with anxiety. It assures us that we can bring all our worries and fears to God because He deeply cares for us. It reminds us that we are not meant to carry the weight of our anxieties alone but can find relief through entrusting them to God.
By surrendering our anxieties to God and relying on His care, we can experience His peace that transcends all understanding.
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This verse brings comfort to those who are experiencing fear and dismay. It reassures us that God is with us and is our source of strength and assistance. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and God is there to uphold us with His righteous hand.
By placing our trust in God, we can find courage and overcome our fears, knowing that He is our constant support and refuge.
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
This verse encourages introspection and the willingness to surrender our emotional state to God. It invites God to examine our hearts, thoughts, and emotions, seeking His guidance and correction. It demonstrates a humility and desire for God to search our innermost being.
By allowing God to search our hearts, we open ourselves to His transformative work, inviting Him to reveal any areas of offense or wrong thinking. It is an invitation for God to lead us in the path of everlasting peace and righteousness.
Romans 12:15
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion towards others’ emotions. It encourages us to celebrate and share in the joy of those around us and also to mourn alongside those who are grieving. It challenges us to engage with the emotional experiences of others, showing them love and support.
By rejoicing and mourning with others, we build deeper connections and display Christ’s love and care for His people.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This verse offers guidance for dealing with anxiety. It encourages us to bring our concerns before God, entrusting Him with our worries and making our requests known to Him. It assures us that as we turn to God in prayer and gratitude, His peace, which surpasses human understanding, will guard our hearts and minds.
This verse reminds us that we can find tranquility and security in God’s presence, even in the midst of anxious situations.
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
This verse speaks to God’s ability to bring healing to our emotional wounds. It assures us that God can mend our broken hearts and bind up the wounds of our souls. It reminds us that we can find restoration and wholeness in God’s loving care.
Whether our emotional pain stems from loss, rejection, or disappointment, this verse offers hope and reassurance that God is the ultimate healer of our hurts.
James 1:19-20
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of self-control and wisdom in managing our emotions, specifically anger. It encourages us to be attentive listeners, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. It highlights the ineffectiveness of human anger in producing righteousness according to God’s desires.
This verse reminds us to exercise restraint and seek godly responses to our emotions, avoiding destructive anger and instead pursuing actions that align with God’s will.
Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
This verse reassures us of God’s faithfulness in carrying our burdens. It prompts us to cast our cares, worries, and anxieties upon the Lord, knowing that He will sustain us. It declares God’s promise to keep the righteous steadfast and unshaken.
By entrusting our cares to God, we can experience His provision and strength, finding stability and peace amidst life’s emotional challenges.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
This verse acknowledges the significance of mourning as a necessary part of the human experience. It declares a blessing upon those who mourn, assuring them of God’s comfort. It reminds us that as we grieve, we have the assurance of God’s presence and solace.
By recognizing and embracing our emotions of mourning, we open ourselves up to receive the comfort that God abundantly provides.
Proverbs 15:13
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”
This verse emphasizes the connection between our emotions and our demeanor. It recognizes that a joyful heart reflects in a cheerful countenance, while heartache can weigh heavily upon our spirits. It highlights the impact our emotional state can have on our overall well-being.
It serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing a joyful heart and seeking emotional healing, understanding that our inner emotions often manifest outwardly.
Psalm 62:8
“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
This verse encourages us to place our trust in God continually. It invites us to pour out our hearts to Him, expressing our deepest emotions and vulnerabilities. It reminds us that God is our refuge, a place of safety and comfort to whom we can turn.
By entrusting our emotions to God and seeking solace in Him, we find refuge and strength in His unfailing love and care.
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
This verse guides us in managing our negative emotions and encourages us to embrace kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. It instructs us to let go of bitterness, rage, anger, and harmful actions, promoting reconciliation and restoration in our relationships.
By choosing to respond to our emotions in a Christ-like manner, we foster a spirit of love and reconciliation, reflecting God’s forgiveness and grace towards others.
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
This verse encourages us to find our joy and delight in the Lord. It assures us that as we focus on God and seek His will, He will align the desires of our hearts with His purposes. It reminds us that true fulfillment comes from a relationship with God.
By prioritizing our relationship with God, we can experience a deep satisfaction and contentment that surpasses fleeting emotional desires.
Psalm 107:9
“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
This verse speaks to God’s ability to satisfy our longings and desires. It recognizes that, just as physical hunger and thirst are met with food and drink, our spiritual and emotional needs are met by God. It assures us that God fills us with good things.
By seeking fulfillment in God, we can find true satisfaction and nourishment for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
1 Samuel 1:15
“I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.”
This verse depicts Hannah pouring out her soul to the Lord in a prayer of distress. It illustrates the concept of bringing our deepest emotions and concerns before God, even when others may not understand or empathize. It demonstrates the raw honesty and vulnerability that can exist in our relationship with God.
By pouring out our souls to the Lord, we find solace and a safe space to express our true emotions, knowing that He listens and understands our deepest struggles.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This verse extends an invitation from Jesus to those who are weary and burdened. It promises rest to those who come to Him, offering relief from emotional exhaustion and distress. It encourages us to learn from Jesus and adopt His gentle and humble nature.
By surrendering our burdens to Christ, we find rest and peace, discovering that His teachings and example provide a lighter load for our souls.
Psalm 31:9
“Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.”
This verse expresses the cry of someone overwhelmed by distress and grief. It acknowledges the toll emotional pain can have on our bodies and souls. It seeks God’s mercy and compassion in the midst of intense sorrow.
By bringing our emotional struggles before God, we find solace in His understanding and grace, knowing that He sees and cares for our entire being.
Lamentations 3:31-32
“For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”
This verse offers hope and reassurance to those who may feel abandoned or overwhelmed by their emotions. It declares that God does not reject or forsake His people forever, even in times of grief. It emphasizes His unfailing love and the compassion He extends to us.
By clinging to the truth of God’s enduring love, we can find comfort and assurance in His faithfulness, knowing that He will not leave us in our emotional afflictions.
Psalm 30:5
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
This verse reminds us that our emotions, whether they be sadness or joy, are often temporary. It acknowledges that we may experience tears and sorrow, but emphasizes that rejoicing and hope will come with the dawn.
It serves as a reminder to hold onto the promise of God’s enduring favor and the assurance that our weeping will be replaced with rejoicing in due time.
John 16:22
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
This verse acknowledges the reality of grief and sorrow in our lives. It assures us that while we may experience seasons of mourning, there is a promised time of rejoicing to come. It declares that our joy, once discovered, cannot be taken away.
By embracing the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can find comfort in the assurance of future joy and eternal life.
Isaiah 53:3
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
This verse points to the suffering and rejection that Jesus experienced during His time on earth. It highlights His intimate understanding of pain and emotional turmoil. It reveals that Jesus can empathize with our own emotional struggles.
Knowing that Jesus Himself endured great emotional pain, we can find comfort in His presence and trust in His ability to understand our emotions.