Women are emotional creatures. Indeed, an important part of our sanctification is learning to control our emotions. I tend to concentrate on the negative displays of emotion, but is there something positive in them? What are they for? Jonathan Edwards, in his classic work, Religious Affections, discusses human emotion:
“God has given to mankind affections, for the same purpose which he has given all the faculties and principles of the human soul for, viz., that they might be subservient to man’s chief end, and the great business for which God has created him, 
that is, the business of religion. And yet how common is it among mankind, that their affections are much more exercised and engaged in other matters than in religion! In things which concern men’s worldly interest, their outward delights, their honour and reputation, and their natural relations, they have their desires eager, their appetites vehement, their love warm and affectionate, their zeal ardent; in these things their hearts are tender and sensible, easily moved, deeply impressed, much concerned, very sensibly affected, and greatly engaged; much depressed with grief and losses, and highly raised with joy at worldly successes and prosperity. But how sensible and unmoved are most men about the great things of another world!”
If I think about what makes me emotional, I have to admit, that it’s usually not getting my way. And a “Little House on the Prairie” re-run is sure to do me in. The suffering of another human being will, I hope, cause me to grieve, but how infrequently am I grieved about my own sin? When is the last time you were so excited about your riches in Christ that everyone in the house knew about it?
Sadly, my best emotions are usually saved for the worst things. The answer to this problem, I believe, is meditation. Meditation on our hopelessness without Christ and meditation on our new position in Christ. Faith comes by hearing, and genuine faith will give itself away in your affections. This Sunday, read through some passages of Scriptures, mediate on the words to hymns related to your salvation, or read the poetry of saints who didn’t put their faith and affections into this world.
I hope you have a truly emotional Sunday!
Thank you. What you said is so true. It seems we run ourselves into two extrmemes: 1) Emotions are bad… stay away. 2) Emotions are good… consume me. Your last entry made me concentrate on what makes me “emotional.” Sadly, the things I get the most emotional about aren’t related to God’s glory. Sadder still is what th Scriptures say, “where your treasure is there your heart will be too.” You are right, it can be a million other things but why aren’t my “emotions” high about what matters most: God!