Emotions : Casting a burden too big for you (or your friends) upon Jesus

What can you do when you're so closed off that you cannot cry in front of others?

Cannot really share.

When everything gets so pent up that you are on the verge of "spewing" on the first lucky person to actually desire to get beyond the surface. Lucky them! They get the pleasure of experiencing a fire-hose  / garbage truck / tidal wave of sadness, anger, frustration, pain and self-pity all in rapid-fire.

Gross. Ew. Ick. Yuck. Phooey.

I so do not want to be that person... again... or ever actually.

I should come with a warning label. Seriously. Those poor friends (thank you for still being my friend afterward!) who have had the privilege of having my garbage truck of emotional out-of-controlness... I am so sorry. I pray that God will heal you from any lingering effects.

QUESTION:   How can I approach an all-knowing, all-powerful, loving God with all of this seemingly endless pent-up emotion? (instead of blessing... say... one of you... :)

God can handle my emotions / worries / fears.  - - - "Cast your cares upon Jesus," right? (Love that song!) Here's what it says in the Bible:

1 Peter 5: 6-11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters[b]all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Whoa! I don't know if the rest of the scripture around that verse hit you like it hit me. FIRST we are called to humble ourselves, THEN we are supposed to give Him ALL--- everything--- ALL of our worries and cares. To God. The great I AM. Because He really and truly cares about us.

God is not overwhelmed by our emotion. Nor is He surprised by what we have going on inside. He absolutely LOVES us and knew us before we were born. Before even our own mothers knew of us.

John 15: 1-17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

How beautiful! God's word is such a blessing to a weak and sometimes foolish spirit like mine. Know today that:

1. God wants your worries as well as your cares. WANTS them. All of them. Cast them because He cares for you.
2. Notice then that he warns against the enemy's schemes. Wha? - Emotions & the enemy's schemes??? You betcha. - Identify the enemy's lies and STAND FIRM.
3. God says he will RESTORE, SUPPORT, and STRENGTHEN you. - Today I'm going to especially lean in on that one.
4. REMAIN in God's love. - His luxurious, patient, and overwhelming love.

Praying for you friend. That God will continue to open our eyes and our ears and prepare our hearts for what he has for us. Also, that we will remember to give all of our cares to God. Lastly, I pray that God will help you to rest / remain in the safety and security of his wonderful love.

Enjoy friend! - - - - Kate