Emotions are strange, aren’t they? They’re so intense, yet so fickle—you can go from incredible joy to debilitating fear to extreme disgust all in one day. But here’s the thing: God didn’t create you to be destroyed by your emotions. Emotions are gifts from God that allow you to encounter the ups and downs of each day in a deep and personal way. I like how author Lysa TerKeurst describes emotions:

"God gave me emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it.”

But what happens when your emotions seem out of control? What happens when you go from joy to fear to disgust all in one hour—or all within a few minutes?

I’ve found that when I’m stressed, I often feel more emotional. If I’m busy and anxious, emotions surge and it's nearly impossible to restrain them; this is what I consider “out-of-control” emotions.

Maybe stress isn’t your trigger, but something else sets your emotions on fire. Perhaps physical issues make it difficult to manage your feelings. You have a blaring headache all day, and the pain causes you to lash out at others.

Or maybe an inspiring life event intensifies your emotions. You receive exciting news and your happiness causes you to feel emotional; without pause, you begin to act outside your personality. Or perhaps you simply find it difficult to control your emotions on a day-to-day basis. After all, it’s difficult to identify when emotions run wild, and even more difficult to manage them.

What would happen if you didn’t experience these ups and downs? Without your emotions, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your relationships with God and others. So how do you manage these emotions so they inspire and encourage you, rather than bring ruin?

Regardless of which emotions you struggle with, or which triggers cause them to run wild, you can find peace and strength in God’s Word.

1. Ask God to guard your emotions, so that you can experience the everyday joys that he has for you.
   Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.– Ephesians 6:10-11 (GNTD)
2. In the midst of strong emotions, give God a chance to mold and mend your heart, and then move on.
   He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. - Psalm 147:3 (GNTD)
3. When emotions overwhelm you, and you simply don’t know what to do next, pray for God’s perfect tranquility.
   The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body.– Colossians 3:15 (GNTD)