The Importance of Feeling

[LearningToLetGo]

Life is a voyage that must be lived. It must be experienced. Thinking is wholly insufficient to appreciate this journey. Feeling is that which brings happiness or sadness, pleasure or pain. That is the lesson that we keep forgetting. We tell ourselves that feelings are wrong if they conflict with thought, but the truth is opposite. Thought must give way to feeling.

Nonetheless, feeling cannot be given unlimited license. There must be balance. Finding this balance is exceedingly difficult. The two (feeling and thought) are like a horse and carriage. The horse is passion and power. Thought is the bridle. Although small and weak, and completely incapable of action on its own, the bridle provides the measure of control necessary to keep the horse from running wild and spilling both driver and carriage into the abyss.

[OneLight]

I find feelings to be too fickle to be dependable in bringing forth the truth in many cases.  I first turn to the truth of His words and then see if my "feelings" line up before I even consider them at all.

[LearningToLetGo]

3 minutes ago, Rosie1jack2pauline3 said:

I was led by my emotions we are not to be led by emotions or feelings ,we are to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Well said, and I agree. We are not to be led by our emotions, but neither are we to downplay them. Ignoring or suppressing emotion leads only to greater pain.

[B-B]

40 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Thought must give way to feeling

Hey @LearningToLetGo😊

Could you explain what you mean here (and hopefully give examples from Scripture)

Many thanks

[LearningToLetGo]

6 minutes ago, B-B said:

Hey @LearningToLetGo😊

Could you explain what you mean here (and hopefully give examples from Scripture)

Many thanks

Don't get caught up in your head. The solution can't always be found in words. Sometimes you have to simply feel your way through something. For example, find a quiet spot where you can be alone. Rest on your knees with bowed head and say, "Jesus, I give myself to you." Then be quiet. Just be quiet and let your feelings flow. 

Edited January 2, 2022 by LearningToLetGo

[MrBear]

1 minute ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Well said, and I agree. We are not to be led by our emotions, but neither are we to downplay them. Ignoring or suppressing emotion leads only to greater pain.

I agree with both points

i remember that show star trek 

MR SPOCK

incapable of feelings, no hate no fear, but also no love 💕 

he couldn’t reciprocate anyone else’s feelings what a lonely existence I can imagine

then one episode he got feelings … and it overwhelmed him, emotions can be a defense mechanism, ever walked into a room and someone is upset and doesn’t even have to say anything? It just hangs in the room as a red flag 🚩 

But it can be misleading as well I have seen a girl break down and cry because a nail broke 😭, my dad is like Mr Spock he is the rock of the family he doesn’t show much emotion I only saw him break down and cry one time at the dinner table it took me by shock

Emotions are a tricky thing but God showed us the best emotion of all LOVE, I couldn’t see myself without them but sometimes they come back to haunt me, that’s part of Gods love to not make a species of Mr spocks and give us emotions like love to express our feelings towards one another and lift each other up

i can do without the bad emotions but that’s what makes the good emotions so great 🥰 as I love my brothers and sisters 

SHALOM❤️

[B-B]

10 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Don't get caught up in your head. The solution can't always be found in words. Sometimes you have to simply feel your way through something. For example, find a quiet spot where you can be alone. Rest on your knees with bowed head and say, "Jesus, I give myself to you." Then be quiet. Just be quiet and let your feelings flow. 

I'm sorry but, could you evidence what you're saying from Scripture? If you aren't able to then this is fine.

I don't agree I'm afraid, that our thoughts must give way to feeling.

(However, Scripture encourages us to take captive every thought, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, (Romans 12:2). We are told to think on things that are pleasing to God (Philippians 4:8), etc. etc. We are advised to be careful about what we meditate/think upon).

Our feelings of course have their place, but I don't agree that we are to give way to them over our thoughts.

Edited January 2, 2022 by B-B

[MrBear]

I got off topic you know the spirit takes me, I’m just along for the ride as I say

But emotions are the highlight of reading the scriptures for me, I can’t count the number of times I found myself weeping like a baby while reading the scriptures 👶

My emotions push the word deep into my heart, I feel a pull by the spirit, anytime I read the gospels and Jesus is in the garden in anguish my emotions get the best of me

Jesus wept, I love that verse it showed us how Jesus was so much like us he genuinely felt the pain in his heart for Lazarus it showed his human side in just 2 words

it still moves me, I couldn’t imagine reading the scriptures without emotions myself it’s an important part of my walk and closeness to the Father

SHALOM❤️

[LearningToLetGo]

21 minutes ago, B-B said:

I don't agree I'm afraid, that our thoughts must give way to feeling.

That's OK. You don't need to agree. :-)

[LearningToLetGo]

24 minutes ago, MrBear said:

i remember that show star trek 

MR SPOCK

incapable of feelings, no hate no fear, but also no love 💕 

It's funny you mention that. I was thinking something similar.

The truth is God created us as both thinking and feeling creatures. But there is a problem with feeling, namely pain. A naive solution to pain is to attempt to not feel it. We do this by retreating into our heads, into our thoughts. That way leads to madness, but when everyone else is doing it, it's hard to tell the difference.