Do we really need to prove that humans are emotional beings? First, “emotions” are defined as “a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.” Emotions are reactions of the mind and body to what happens around us, what we experience, etc.
Humans experience a whole range of emotions: joy, anger, fear, depression, anxiety, and so forth. The first emotion humans experienced, it appears, was desire when Eve saw the fruit of the tree of knowledge was “good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6). Although it is not explicitly said, once Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, they were ashamed as they “knew they were naked, sewed fig leaves and made loin coverings” (3:7). The emotional responses did not stop there. When they heard God walking in the garden, they were afraid and hid themselves (3:8-10).
Humans are emotional beings. The fruit of the Spirit include some positive emotions: love, joy, peace (Gal. 5:22). Conversely, some of the works of the flesh are negative emotions: enmity, jealousy, anger, envy (Gal. 5:20-21).
It is obvious, then, that our emotions can be either negative or positive. Sometimes even the same event can create conflicting emotions. Preparing for a birthday party for your child, for example, might cause some stress and anxiety even as you experience happiness and joy at his or her celebration.
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Our Friday devotionals are largely concerned with negative emotions that deal most directly with feelings of discouragement and depression. I am utilizing the education and training of cognitive therapist Dr. David Burns which he shares with the public in a book titled Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. His approach to depression management would have been considerably strengthened if he were a Christian and had a strong faith in and knowledge of the Word of God. Our devotionals will try to rectify that weakness.
If you deal with discouragement on a regular basis or depression, I would be glad to share with you Dr. Burns’s “Depression Checklist.” Send me an e-mail and I’ll share it with you. It is a brief questionnaire to take periodically, to assess your level of depression. If you read faithfully these devotionals and put into practice what is suggested, it would be an interesting project to take the survey now and then again in thirteen weeks when we have finished our studies together. Depression can lead to suicide in some people, made evident recently in the publicized suicides of Kate Spade, the NY fashion designer, and chef Anthony Bourdain.
If you and I can learn to control our thoughts, which is eminently possible, then we can also alter our emotions which will have a positive impact on our behavior. That’s what these devotionals are about. I pray they will be beneficial to you personally or help you help others.
Paul Holland
