Embracing Emotions in the Pursuit of Knowing God

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Embracing Emotions in the Pursuit of Knowing God

The connection between emotions and seeking God is very important. Emotions help open our hearts and make us feel closer to God. While studying the Bible and thinking deeply are necessary to know God better, emotions are the starting point that make us want to look for Him. Without emotions, first, we would not begin the relationship with God, and second, our faith can become cold and routine, losing the fire that brings us close to Him.

God made us with emotions and loves 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 strong emotional desire to be near 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 hurting.

Today, some movements encourage people to focus only on deep study and theology, but they forget the importance of emotions. I am not saying that deep study is not needed, 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 state of the soul.

Emotions make us want to find God because we feel we need 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 to deeper study of the Bible, as Proverbs 2:3-5 says, "If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding... then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Emotions and reason must work together to help us know God better.

If we lose emotion in our faith, it can feel empty. God wants us to love Him with everything we are: our hearts, minds, and souls. Emotions are not the final goal, but they are the door that helps us enter deeper into our relationship with God. As Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself 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.

Eduardo Mendes

Founder and President