2020 ECPA Christian Book Award Winner: Christian Living
How do you feel about how you feel?
Our emotions are complex. Some of us seem able to ignore our feelings, while others feel controlled by them. But most of us would admit that we don’t always know what to do with how we feel.
The Bible teaches us that our emotions are an indispensable part of what makes us human—and play a crucial role in our relationships with God and others. Exploring how God designed emotions for our good, this book shows us how to properly engage with our emotions—even the more difficult ones like fear, anger, shame, guilt, and sorrow—so we can better understand what they reveal about our hearts and handle them wisely in everyday moments.
“I've been a counselor for twenty years, and I still don't get emotions. I need help to figure them out, and I’m sure you do, too. Untangling Emotions is now my go-to guide on emotions. It packs a lot into one book, and page after page honors Christ.”
--- Deepak Reju, Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministry, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC; author, The Pastor and Counseling and She’s Got the Wrong Guy
“You might not put a book on emotions at the top of your reading list, but given how everyday life is crammed with our emotions and those of our families, friends, and enemies, the topic is highly important. This book will lead you to engage with emotions in good and fruitful ways.”
--- Ed Welch, Faculty and Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction: How Do You Feel about How You Feel?
Part 1: Understanding Emotions
Sometimes It’s Good to Feel Bad
What Exactly Are Emotions?
Emotions Don’t Come in Single File
Emotions Happen in Your Body
You Relate to Others When You Feel with Them
Why Can’t I Control My Emotions?
Part 2: Engaging Emotions
Two Pitfalls
Engage: A Better Option
Engaging Emotions Means Engaging God
Engaging Relationships
On Nourishing Healthy Emotions
On Starving Unhealthy Emotions
Part 3: Engaging the Hardest Emotions
Engaging Fear
Engaging Anger
Engaging Grief
Engaging Guilt and Shame
A Museum of Tears
Appendix: Does God Really Feel? The Doctrine of Impassibility General Index Scripture Index