Emotional Healing
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Definition and Scope:
Emotional healing refers to the process of recovering from emotional wounds, distress, or trauma. It involves restoring one's emotional well-being and finding peace and wholeness through spiritual, psychological, and relational means. In the Christian context, emotional healing is often seen as a work of God, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, Scripture, prayer, and the support of the Christian community.

Biblical Foundations:
The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that relate to emotional healing. The Psalms, in particular, are rich with expressions of emotional turmoil and the subsequent healing that comes from turning to God. Psalm 34:18 states, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit." This verse highlights God's proximity and care for those who are emotionally wounded.

Jesus as the Healer:
Jesus Christ is central to the concept of emotional healing in the Bible. His ministry was marked by compassion and healing, not only of physical ailments but also of emotional and spiritual wounds. In Luke 4:18 , Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed." This mission includes the healing of emotional and spiritual oppression.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in emotional healing. The Spirit is described as the Comforter and Counselor (John 14:26), providing guidance, peace, and comfort to believers. Romans 8:26 assures us, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words." This intercession is vital for emotional healing, as the Spirit understands our deepest needs and emotions.

Prayer and Scripture:
Prayer is a powerful tool for emotional healing. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages believers, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Through prayer, believers can cast their anxieties on God and receive His peace.

Scripture also serves as a source of healing. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as "living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword." It penetrates the heart and soul, bringing truth and healing to emotional wounds.

Community and Support:
The Christian community is an essential component of emotional healing. Galatians 6:2 instructs believers to "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The support, encouragement, and accountability found within the body of Christ can aid in the healing process.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation:
Forgiveness is a significant aspect of emotional healing. Ephesians 4:31-32 advises, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Forgiveness releases the hold of past hurts and allows for emotional restoration.

Hope and Future Restoration:
The Bible offers hope for complete restoration and healing in the future. Revelation 21:4 promises, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This assurance of future healing provides comfort and hope for those currently experiencing emotional pain.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
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1 Corinthians 10:13
There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
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2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
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James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
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Psalm 34:17-20
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
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Hebrews 12:1
Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
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Library

The Return to Capernaum - Concerning the Forgiveness of Sins - the ...
... as Divine, and He proved it such by the miracle of healing which immediately ... paralysed
man to make the due physical response to the emotional shock consequent ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvi the return to.htm

xxxiii.
... is, that we, according to this thinking and emotional age, understand more profoundly
the connection between the effect of the remedy and the healing of our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxiii.htm

God's Workmanship and Our Works
... blessed warm morning air of the sun of righteousness, with healing in its ... Emotional
Christianity is necessary, but Christianity, which is mainly or exclusively ...
/.../gods workmanship and our works.htm

The Seventh Beatitude
... that the purest communion with God, and the selectest emotional experiences of ...
contending people give up their quarrels, and produces a healing atmosphere of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the seventh beatitude.htm

The New Sinai
... iv.23, as 'teaching' and 'healing,' governs the arrangement of his materials from
chapter v ... as lead to poverty of spirit, and is, in fact, the emotional side of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the new sinai.htm

The Pattern of Service
... sin, how shall the full tide flow through us for the healing of the ... whole train of
affectations and falsehoods follow the steps of an emotional religion, which ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the pattern of service.htm

Away in Paris, a Vast Concourse of People were Assembled Round an ...
... by the solemnity of the scene, as well as by their own emotional excitement, more ...
and he was present in my house too, when the miracle of healing was performed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/xxxii away in paris a.htm

The Cardinal was Still in his Room Alone with the Boy Manuel...
... To Thy care, and to Thy comfort, and to Thy healing, great Master, we commend him,
trusting him entirely to ... The emotional Madame Patoux choked back a rising sob ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/vi the cardinal was still.htm

The Flag of the World
... Of course there may be pathetic emotional excuses for the act. ... Suppose, for the sake
of argument, we are concerned with a case of thaumaturgic healing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/v the flag of the.htm

For the Candid and Thoughtful
... sincere""with all thy heart"; intelligent""with all thy understanding";
emotional""with all ... I beg you to join with me in thanks to the healing Lord for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/for the candid and thoughtful.htm

Resources
Was Jesus ever angry? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it says in your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)? | GotQuestions.org

How can I know if I am in love? | GotQuestions.org

Emotion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Emotion

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Affair

Emotional Attachment

Emotional Healing

Emotional Infidelity

Emotions

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Emotional Goodbyes in Ministry
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