Mastering Emotions

Biblical Examples of Emotional Mastery

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There are several examples in the Bible of people who learned to master their emotions through their faith in God. Two powerful examples are King David and Jesus.

• David: King David is known for being a man after God’s own heart, yet he experienced a wide range of emotions—joy, sorrow, anger, fear, and guilt. In the Psalms, David often poured out his emotions to God, but he always returned to trust in God’s faithfulness. David didn’t ignore his emotions—he brought them to God and allowed God to shape his response.

Psalm 13:1-2, 5 (NLT) captures this process:

"O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me."

• Jesus: Our Lord experienced deep emotions, including sorrow, anger, and compassion. In the Garden of Gethseman…