Dear Seeking Sister,

Recent bible study has led me to think about emotions.  I have a tendency to suppress feelings, especially strong ones.  I know it is unhealthy, but it is my first reaction when I feel something volatile stirring inside me.  My education taught me that the main reason I suppress relates back to the neglect I suffered as a child.

Identifying why we suppress emotions excuse us for doing so.  It is immature and unhealthy.  If we are to grow in Christ and mature along our walk we need to deal with our emotions in a healthy way.  The following phrase from a movie I recently watched struck a chord with me.

“Emotions are like little children, you can’t let them drive, but you can’t stuff them in the trunk either.”

The analogy is saying emotions have to be released from your body, but not in an inappropriate place or manner.  If emotions aren’t released in a healthy and timely manner, they become blended with other buried emotions. If not released they can literally make your body ill (e.g. ulcers, colds, etc.).

With some skepticism I’ve also read suppressed anger can even cause cancer.  That is a wild claim, I know, but Google it and research it through trusted sources. 

This mix of emotions can become so tightly packed that they grow into something combustible.  One small event can trigger an inappropriate and sometimes awkward explosion.  We’ve all done this and likely witnessed this happen to a sister.  It seems that a small event can all too often be the catalyst that releases an onslaught of emotions.  Worse than that, the explosion does nothing to deal with the situation that caused the originally suppressed emotion and the cycle can begin again.

There is the flip side to suppression.  It is often called dumping.  There are those who all too often express every emotion that surface no matter the time or place. Hormones aside, this behavior demonstrates similar immaturity as the sister who suppresses.

The bible teaches there is a time and place for everything.

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
• Ecclesiastes 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh,  a time to mourn and a time to dance,”
• Ecclesiastes 3:8 “a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” 

Bible study has taught me an approach that provided the knowledge needed to help with my suppressing tendency.  The approach I’ve unearthed will also help those who tend to dump their emotions.

Until next time, In His Grip!

Tammy

Scripture Study:  Ezekiel 24:15-27