Embracing Emotions in the Pursuit of Knowing God
The connection between our emotions and our pursuit of God is very important. Emotions help open our hearts and make us feel closer to God. While studying the Bible and reflecting deeply are necessary to know God better, emotions are the starting point that makes us want to pursue Him. Without emotions, first, we would not begin our relationship with God, and second, our faith can become cold and routine, losing the fire that draws us near to Him.
God created us with emotions and loves it when we use them to connect with Him. In Psalm 42:1, the Bible says: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." This verse shows a deep emotional longing to be close to God. Another verse, Psalm 34:18, says: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." It shows that God cares about our feelings and helps us when we are suffering.
Today, some movements encourage people to focus only on deep study and theology, but they forget the importance of emotions. I am not saying deep study is not necessary, but emotions are just as important. Many people focus too much on thinking and studying and forget emotions in their faith. While learning about God is very important, if we leave emotions out, our relationship with God can become distant. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’" This shows that God wants us to love Him with both our emotions and our minds, because emotions often reflect the condition of the soul.
Emotions make us want to find God because we feel our need for Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When we feel love or awe, we are motivated to learn more about God. Emotions can lead us into deeper Bible study, as Proverbs 2:3-5 says: "indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding... then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Emotions and reason must work together to help us know God more fully.
If we lose emotion in our faith, it can feel empty. God wants us to love Him with all that we are: our hearts, minds, and souls. Emotions are not the final goal, but they are the doorway that helps us enter more deeply into our relationship with God. As Psalm 37:4 says: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Emotions lead us to seek God more and more, helping us grow in faith.