What are the Bible's teachings on feelings?

I. Understanding the Purpose of Feelings

Scripture consistently reveals that human emotions are part of our created nature. “So God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27) indicates that our capacity to feel reflects aspects of God’s own relational and emotional attributes—such as love, compassion, and righteous anger. Feelings are not accidental but can enrich the human experience when properly aligned with God’s truth.

Yet the Bible also warns that emotions, though God-given, can be misleading if they become our primary guides. Proverbs 28:26 cautions, “He who trusts in himself is a fool,” highlighting the danger of letting our hearts or feelings alone dictate decisions.

II. The Created Nature of Emotions

The emotional dimension was part of the original human makeup from the earliest accounts in Genesis. Because humanity bears the image of a personal God, we have the ability to experience love, joy, peace, sorrow, and more. These feelings are meant to draw us closer to Him and to each other.

Psalm 139:13–14 conveys that each person is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” including the capacity to experience the full range of human emotion. The psalmist’s worshipful response indicates that emotions, at their best, bring reverence and humility before the Creator.

III. The Fall and the Distortion of Emotions

Though emotions were created good, the entrance of sin into the world (Genesis 3) distorted every aspect of human nature. A key example is seen when Cain became jealous and angry with Abel (Genesis 4:5–7). His feelings turned destructive when he allowed anger to override God’s instruction.

Jeremiah 17:9 warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things,” reminding believers that unexamined feelings can mislead them away from godly living. Because of sin’s pervasive effects, emotions can become volatile, self-centered, or harmful, emphasizing our need for divine truth.

IV. Balancing Feelings with Scripture

1. Submitting to God’s Word

Even though emotions can be valuable, they must be guided by scriptural truths. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) underscores the practice of scrutinizing our feelings through the lens of Scripture.

2. Guarding the Heart

Proverbs 4:23 states, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” Vigilance is necessary in monitoring our emotions so that they remain consistent with love, forgiveness, and righteousness.

3. Self-Control and the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit—including love, joy, and peace—as signs of a life governed by God’s Spirit, not by fleeting emotions. Such self-control recalibrates our feelings to align with God’s holiness and purposes.

V. Trusting God in Times of Emotional Turmoil

1. Casting All Anxiety on Him

When anxiety surfaces, believers are encouraged to pray rather than be overwhelmed. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). This transfer of burdens acknowledges that emotions, while real, need not dominate our hearts.

2. Presenting Requests With Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6–7 provides the practical means: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God... will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This passage underscores that thanksgiving and prayer direct our emotions Godward, inviting His supernatural peace.

VI. Biblical Examples of Emotions

1. Jesus’ Compassion and Grief

Jesus expressed deep emotions, from compassion (Matthew 9:36) to weeping at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35). These moments show how proper feelings—rooted in love and empathy—reflect God’s very nature.

2. David’s Range of Emotions

The Psalms record David’s cries of anguish, joy, repentance, and worship. For instance, in Psalm 51:10, David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” reflecting a posture of humility that brings restoration to unruly feelings.

3. Paul’s Exhortations to Rejoice

Despite suffering, Paul repeatedly encourages believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). This perspective champions faith in God’s promises over circumstance-driven despair.

VII. Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Anger

1. Be Angry and Do Not Sin

Ephesians 4:26 states, “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Anger itself is not forbidden but requires management under God’s righteous standards. If anger seeks justice and restoration (as Jesus displayed when clearing the temple in Matthew 21:12–13), it can align with God’s character.

2. Avoiding Bitterness

Unchecked anger often leads to bitterness or malice. Hebrews 12:15 warns that bitterness can spread, affecting the entire community of believers. Thus, the Bible teaches believers to rectify conflicts swiftly and maintain a posture of mercy.

VIII. Feelings in Community and Worship

1. Bearing One Another’s Burdens

Feelings extend beyond the individual; they also shape how we interact with others in the Body of Christ. Galatians 6:2 teaches, “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Collective empathy and compassion reflect God's love and strengthen spiritual fellowship.

2. Corporate Worship and Emotional Expression

Throughout Scripture, God’s people express a wide range of emotions in communal worship—joyful praise (Psalm 150) and deep lament (Lamentations 3). Healthy expression nurtures a vibrant relationship with God and unites believers in shared devotion and dependence on Him.

IX. Insights from Archaeology and Historical Reliability

Archaeological findings, such as the textual discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls near Qumran, reinforce the accuracy of the biblical texts that inform our understanding of emotions and all other doctrines. These ancient manuscripts, closely matching the modern-day Bible, confirm that Scripture’s guidance on feelings has remained consistent across millennia.

Ancient sites corresponding with places mentioned in Scripture—such as the city of Jericho or the region around the Sea of Galilee—further corroborate the historical context in which biblical events, including expressions of joy, worship, and lament, took place. This verifiable reliability gives believers confidence that the Bible’s teachings on feelings are rooted in an authentic historical backdrop.

X. Application for Daily Life

1. Cultivating Discernment

Feelings can serve as signals; they inform us about joy, hurt, conviction, or excitement. By weighing them against biblical truths, we cultivate discernment, ensuring we neither suppress emotions unwisely nor let them rule our decisions.

2. Seeking the Holy Spirit’s Guidance

The Spirit helps believers align their hearts with God’s will. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). By continually surrendering to His leading, believers invite transformation that refines their emotional responses.

3. Practicing Healthy Emotional Habits

Prayer, worship, and fellowship aid in grounding fluctuations in feelings. Accountability within a congregation—through encouragement, shared testimonies, and scriptural counsel—creates an environment where emotions are validated yet directed toward God’s truth.

XI. Conclusion

Biblically speaking, feelings are an intrinsic part of our being, intended to enrich relationships with both God and others. While sin distorts emotions, Scripture provides the tools to bring them under divine guidance. By submitting our feelings to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s influence, believers can experience emotional wholeness and contribute to the flourishing of the community of faith.

Properly framed, emotions act as reflections of God’s character and instruments for His glory. As believers grow in grace, they learn that faithfully stewarding feelings—rather than being dominated by them—enables a life of deeper worship, loving service, and unwavering trust in the One who made us.