What do you do with strong emotions?  Do you bottle them up?  Take them out on the right person?  Take them out on the wrong person?  Deny them?

A paragraph from Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word book, in the chapter “Overcoming Unforgiveness” has helped me tremendously in the best way to deal with strong emotions.  I realize, ideally, emotions would be under control.  But when hurt, fear and anger are present…what are our options? 

See what you think of this:

“Our wise God, Creator of the human heart, purposely picked out the heart of David as an example to us.  Not coincidentally, David was the one God inspired to pen the liberating words of Psalm 62:8, which says, Trust in him at all times, O people;/ pour out your hearts to him, / for God is our refuge.’

…And we, too, are invited to bring our complaints to God when we are overwhelmed.  In Psalm 64:1, David said, ‘Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint’.  In Psalm 142:1-2, David wrote, ‘I cry aloud to the LORD; / I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy./ I pour out my complaint before him; / before him I tell my trouble.’  See what I mean?  David practiced what he preached in Psalm 62:8…

…Intimacy with God means sharing the depths of our hearts with Him.  If what is in the depths is great joy and celebration, then share it with Him.  And if what is in the depths is anger, hurt, and all sorts of injury, tell Him that too!  Oh, what healing we would find if we only understood that God is about real living.  We leave Him out of feelings, emotions, temptations, and situations He made Himself totally available to treat! 

…When I pour out my heart to God over an injury I feel I’ve received from someone, first of all, I almost always feel better.  As I talk it out with God, I am often able to separate truth from fiction and the difference between my perceptions and reality.  Other times, the exact opposite occurs.  The more I talk about it with God, the more aware I become of how truly upset I am.  The good news is, I’m already a step ahead in restoration because I’m dealing with it exactly where I should be.” (pages 233-236)

So if you ever have bitterness toward someone, where do you spew?  I recommend David’s way.  This God of ours is the great Psyche-ologist!