Anger, sadness, jealousy, pain. Four unhealthy, unproductive, disgusting emotions. But also catalysts of transformation.
Negative emotions are inevitable. Regardless of our temperament, we all face emotions we'd rather not have.
They cause guilt and shame and compromise and pain and fear to rise up from within. They bring unhappiness and anxiety to would-be happy, peace-lit lives.
What and where is their purpose?
Encouragement in emotional pain
First, pain is encouragement because God suffers pain. He is there with us when we experience it - His Presence beckons us to something better.
Pain is a stimulus for reflection, which is a good springboard for change.
God commanded us to do something about pain. Pain, whether it ends in fear or guilt or shame, or a double or triple whammy of the combination, is not some ugly end point, but the beginning of opportunity. Once we are able to settle enough to accept the presence of pain, we are in a field position to explore it without judgment.
Pain must never be judged, mocked, condemned or despised. It's an important indicator that things aren't right so we can fix them.
Loving unhealthy emotions into a healing encounter with God
Unhealthy emotions, accepted, we now have the perfect foundation to move on from the very place of our imperfection. And pain is God's chosen instigator. He knows that we need to be stimulated—awakened from our spiritual slumber. Pain is His agent.
God loves when we have enough humility to walk into reality. When we have knocked on the door of truth, we truly find that freedom awaits us within, where lies can no longer dwell.
Pain in unhealthy emotions can drive us through curiosity to seek God's truth. God never has anything bad for us, and we can be sure that enduring pain brings healing.
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