Consider This: Feelings are For....????

Consider This: Feelings Are For…????

Complete this sentence, “If I could go back in time, I would…”. Or this one, “I wish I had not…”. One more, “I wish I had…”.

Regrets. Sadness. Mistakes. We cannot get through life without them. Therefore, we need to learn how to deal with negative experiences. Here are three choices.

First, we can believe that feelings are to be ignored. Take all your hurts, stuff them down, and never admit how you really feel. This is not a good long-term strategy because those ignored feelings come out badly in other places. In addition, ignoring our feelings causes us to live a delusional life that is disconnected from reality. This does not help anyone.

A second option is to decide that feelings are for feeling. In other words, feelings are the ultimate guide, and we ought to feel everything to its extreme. Do whatever makes you feel good. When you feel bad, wallow in it. Living this way is not only chaotic but also destructive. It gives us nothing solid to stand on.

A third, and better way, is to realize that feelings are to be thought about and acted upon. Feelings are like gauges on the dashboard of our lives. They help us understand how things are going and alert us to issues that need attention. Regret and sorrow, for example, should cause us to change something, make amends, apologize or, at least, make better decisions in the future.

Interestingly, there is a Biblical word that describes the third approach: it is called repentance.

Repent means “to turn around,” and it becomes important when we realize that we have been going the wrong way. For example, when the people of Jerusalem realized that they had killed the Son of God, Acts 2:37 says they were “cut to the heart” (a feeling of remorse and regret) and asked, “What shall we do?” (their bad feeling caused them to want to act and make things better).

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38).

Bad feelings can lead to better actions. In fact, that is exactly what they are supposed to do.

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