So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them. Genesis 1:27 NIV
When God said He made us in His image, He meant that we are different from all the rest of God’s creation. We were specially created with inherent qualities that reflect God's nature. We have the ability to reason, to create, to be morally aware, and we have a wide range of emotions. We are able to use our emotions for good, with health and wholeness, to represent God in our world through expressing these emotions with goodness, justice, compassion, and love.
Our God is an emotional God. He is not void of feelings. We feel because He feels. God cares deeply about your emotions. He longs for your life to be marked by emotional health enabling joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace. When we lack emotional health our emotions direct our lives, and circumstances direct our emotions. That leads to roller-coaster emotions and a lack of emotional health, which leads to disrupted relationships.
Our emotions must be rooted in God to have emotional health and maturity. Scripture continually describes a link between our emotional health and our trust in God. Isaiah declares, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT). David found the same truth: “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” (Psalm 56:3-4 NLT). Jesus regularly urged His followers to cast their cares on Him, to remember He would never leave or forsake them.
We feel emotional distress when we look at our job and co-workers for provision, identity, purpose, and fulfillment. Our emotions are chaotic when we expect our relationships instead of God’s perspective to establish our sense of worth. We are robbed of peace and emotional health when we try and plan our own next steps based on emotions and circumstances.
Jesus says, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 NLT). God wants to give you consistent, constant peace regardless of the circumstances. That peace will enable you to make the continuing wise choices that lead to life and health for you and those you love. But you must trust Him in every area of your life, believing He will guide you to the life Jesus died to provide.
- Meditate on the link between trust and emotional health. Ask God to help you grow your desire and willingness to trust God with every area of your life.