When Your Feelings Are Holding You Back - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - January 18, 2022
When Your Feelings Are Holding You Back By Rick Warren
“Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ.”Philippians 2:5 (TLB)
If you want to succeed in life, you must learn how to master your moods. When you’re dealing with an emotion that’s holding you back, you’ve got two options: You either change it, or you direct it.
Sometimes you need to change what you’re feeling. Some emotions are so destructive, so damaging, so hurtful, and so ineffective that the only thing you can do is change them.
Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ” (TLB).
Your attitude includes your emotions—so what you’re feeling should be the same as that of Jesus. You need to ask yourself, “How would Jesus respond in this situation? Would Jesus get irritated with this waitress? No. Would Jesus yell at that person? No. Would Jesus be up all night, wringing his hands and worrying that it isn’t going to work out? No. Would Jesus be fearful? No.”
Then you instantly dismiss any feeling that doesn’t make you more like Jesus. If Jesus wouldn’t respond to your spouse with that emotion, then you shouldn’t either. You drop that attitude, and you figure out what Jesus would do instead.
Sometimes you need to direct what you’re feeling. When my son Matthew died, I entered into the deepest possible grief you can imagine. But my wife and I decided from the first moment that we were going to channel that grief for good and use our pain to help other people. That’s one of the reasons Saddleback Church now hosts an annual conference on mental illness. I’m not about to waste a hurt I go through. I’m going to use it for good.
Your greatest ministry will not come out of your strengths and successes. Your greatest ministry is more likely to come out of your deepest pain.
What feeling is holding you back today? Name it. Then decide whether you need to change it or direct it, and then use it for good.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Help Share the Good News of Jesus with the World!
In God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions, Pastor Rick Warren takes you to the Bible to find practical, life-changing guidance for some of life’s biggest struggles.
This book will help you:
- Cope with stress in a healthy, biblical way
- Find peace and confidence in times of crisis
- Rebound from failure and move forward with purpose
- Overcome loneliness and build meaningful relationships
- Experience real, lasting change through God’s truth
Request your copy today when you give to help take the hope of Jesus to the world through Daily Hope. And thank you for your partnership!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
