Stuck Emotions, What Are They?

“Emotion is a complex experience of consciousness, bodily sensation, and behavior that reflects the personal significance of a thing, an event, or a state of affairs. It is a strong feeling, often accompanied by a physical reaction. Aristotle defined emotions as “all those feelings that so change men as to affect their judgements, and that are also attended by pain or pleasure.” (Britannica).

When God created man, He created him with body, soul and spirit. The soul dictates man’s doings. It is a word for the intellect, the will and emotion. Without the soul, man would be without action. Emotions are feelings; they can be happy or sad depending on circumstances. So, emotions are affected by positive or negative circumstances. They are expressed through tears, especially in women.  It is the part of the soul and it affects the organs of the body. When we cannot let go of past emotions, we hold them in the organs, weakening them with diseases. One thing that many of us hold onto is bitterness with unforgiveness. The emotion that expresses anger gets stuck in the liver, if not dealt with. The Bible tells us, “Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your anger- do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:27). A child, when traumatized in the atmosphere of abuse against him, will without a doubt, suffer the emotional consequences of stuck emotion through his life. This will constitute an open door to the devil, who prows over us to destroy us. As a matter of fact, the mind is a battlefield most fought for, since it is through it that Satan has access to its control. Peter said, Be well balanced, be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring, seeking someone to seize upon and devour (I Peter 5:8).

Good emotions are essential for the construction of a good and strong character. The Bible encourages us to be kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving. While our Lord YAHSHUA was being crucified, He prayed forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him. The emotion that reflects the Lord in our life is love, for love forgives and overlooks an offense.  In love we develop positive thoughts that guide us to positive emotions. Paul said, For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (Phil. 4:8). The main reason for stuck emotions is unforgiveness and self-pettiness.  Learning how to let go and let God take vengeance on those who offended us, is a good way to let go of them. Stuck emotions are doors for the devil to control our thoughts. Cain expressed jealousy toward his brother and in anger, he killed him. He held unto the fact that his offering was not accepted by the Lord, but his brother’s was. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.” The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why do look sad and depressed? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:6-7). Stuck emotion in the life of Esau against his brother, Jacob, almost caused him to kill him. To this day, stuck emotions of anger and jealousy have governed his descendants as well as in Ismael’s the half-brother of Isaac and in Esau Jacob’s twin brother. For this reason, the Middle East is a place empty of peace. Only when the Prince of Peace -YASHHUA comes will He bring peace to all.  

Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter

(Ecclesiastes 7:3)

Contrary to our thinking, Solomon in his wisdom, declares the not so obvious situation of the soul. In his analyses, he identifies the hidden truth of what seems way out of the mind of man. Judges of the soul for what we see, it shocks us to know that what we see is not what truly is. Sorrow, an expression of an unpleasant experience, is always marked on the face. It denotes sadness, in a deep emotional disturbance within, expressing outwardly, caused by a sense of loss; a condition of mournfulness. Solomon shows an interesting factor concerning this condition: sorrow is better than laughter for by sadness of face the heart is made glad; for a sad countenance is good for the heart (Ecl. 7:3). Seemly, the weight of sorrow demonstrated on the face, lifts it from the heart. The tremendous result one can experience afterward, comes with tears of joy, for it is in that time when the soul cries to God; it is in that time when man seeks God with a broken heart. Other times, life goes on without the knowledge of God.   YAHSHUA took all our sorrows and pains; He suffered all we suffer and more. At the time when sorrow from whatever situation comes to us, remember that He wore the crown of thorns, while we enjoy the roses’ fragrance.