15 Bible Verses on Emotional Health: With Applications
God cares about every aspect of his children’s lives. He cares about our bodies, our spirits, our minds, and our emotions. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about emotional health. Then, I’ll share three practical applications to help us process our feelings in God’s presence.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God for emotional wholeness.
Bible Verses on Emotional Health
Here are 15 encouraging Bible verses on emotional health.
15 Bible Verses on Emotional Health
1. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2. Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
3. Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
5. 2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
6. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
7. Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
8. Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
9. Proverbs 14:30
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
10. Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
11. Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
12. Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
13. 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
14. Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
15. 1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
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Let’s now apply these Bible verses on emotional health to our lives. I invite you to join me as I walked alongside our young daughter at the local bike path, and we’ll talk about how to feel our emotions but stand on the Truth.
Practical Applications of These Bible Verses on Emotional Health
She pedals alongside me on her purple princess bike as I push her cheese-curl-munching brother in the faded brown stroller. I have no idea she’s about to teach me a very grown-up lesson about how to feel your feelings. Little ones seem to have a way of imparting life lessons without knowing it.
“I’ve decided not to let myself miss Daddy today,” she says.
Her dad has been out of town for work for three days, and we have three more to go.
“Why’s that?” I probe.
“When I let myself miss him, it just ruins the day. I was sad all day yesterday, so I’ve decided not to be sad today,” she thoughtfully explains. She’s eight, and she’s sure she has life figured out.
I mull over her words as we walk through the beech woods. I think of the recent words of a friend who reminded me that “feelings are meant to be felt.”
Why You Need to Feel Your Feelings
I’m a lot like my daughter. I’d rather sweep my feelings under the nearest rug and pretend everything’s fine than get stuck in a rut of sadness or negativity.
At the same time, life has taught me that sweeping my emotions under the rug isn’t as effective as it seems. Sooner or later, those emotions come creeping out. I find myself unfurling over socks balled up on the living room floor or crumbs on the table when what I’m really feeling is pent-up grief over a wound I never brought into the light.
“I have an idea,” I say to the sweet girl whose mind is set on having a good day. “Feelings are meant to be felt. Maybe you should go ahead and feel your feelings for a bit. When something is bothering me, I give myself time to actually feel it. I think through it. Then, I bring that feeling to God and ask him to speak truth into it. I stand on the truth instead of standing on the feeling.”
Sweet Bekah understands what I’m saying and agrees it’s a good idea.
For five minutes, the three of us continue down the bike trail and list everything we miss about Daddy. Caleb jumps in with input about wrestling, puppies, and books. We let ourselves feel what we feel. When our time of sadness is over, we return to what is true: The joy of the Lord is our strength, even when circumstances aren’t ideal (see Nehemiah 8:10).
How to Feel Your Feelings
I am reminded of the importance of acknowledging my emotions and then standing on the truth. If you’re walking through a difficult season or are simply worn down from the daily wounds of living in a broken world, here are four steps to feel what you feel but stand on the truth:
1. Name Your Emotions
Grief and trauma therapists contend that our everyday lives hold enough painful moments that we would all benefit from taking a few minutes at the end of each day to identify and name our emotions in the presence of God.
Bekah and I often walk through an exercise we call “Happy-Sad” at the end of the day. We ask God to remind us of one moment that made us happy throughout the day and one moment that made us sad.
We let ourselves examine our emotions.
We’re honest about how we felt and why.
We don’t try to hide or bury any sense of shame, disappointment, embarrassment, inadequacy, or rejection. We feel it.
After we feel it, we remind ourselves of the truth of God’s Word, which is stronger and more powerful than any emotions. We feel what we feel, but we stand on what is True.
2. Validate Your Emotions
Throughout most of my life, I did everything I could to talk myself out of any of the negative emotions listed above.
I thought that feeling disappointed, embarrassed, ashamed, or less-than meant I was weak. I wanted to be a strong, independent woman, so I pushed aside emotions that felt even slightly feeble and scolded myself for being so wimpy.
It’s been a long journey to recognize that sometimes, the strongest thing a woman can do is look straight into an emotion, let herself feel the brunt of it, and sit with it.
Sitting with our emotions doesn’t mean we get stuck in discouragement or despair. It simply means that it’s okay to feel less-than when no one likes your idea. It’s okay to feel left out when your friends have a girls’ night out and fail to invite you. It’s okay to feel disappointed when your plans fall to pieces.
Sometimes, the strongest thing a woman can do is look straight into an emotion, let herself feel the brunt of it, and sit with it. #feelyourfeelings #standonTruth #Godislove Share on X3. Feel Your Feelings with the Healer
If we stop after Step 2, we very well might remain stuck in despair.
For this reason, God longs to reveal himself as the Great Healer. He calls us to bring him our cares and petitions (see 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7). He is gentle, and he is so attentive that he counts and collects our tears (see Psalm 56:8).
Bring your raw emotions to God and ask him to speak wisdom into your life.
Ask him to show you what you need to know about your pain.
He knows. He can give you the perspective to help you process your pain and speak truth into your brokenness.
4. Speak Truth to Your Emotions
Once you have carried your emotions to God, ask him to give you the truth you need to stand on in the midst of your difficult season.
Search Scripture for direct words that speak to your circumstances.
Commit those words to memory, and repeat them as often as needed.
Brain research shows we can literally rewire our brains. Dwell on the painful emotions that create toxic thoughts in your brain, and you cultivate negativity. Choose to dwell on what is true, right, pure, and admirable, and you create healthy new brain matter. You can form a new thought in your brain by repeating true statements seven times per day over a period of 21 days.1
~~~
Darrell returns from his trip after three days which feel much longer than three days, and we’re all thrilled he’s home. It was good to miss him, but it was good to stand on the truth in the midst of our emotions as well.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here! 
Resource from Caroline Leaf: https://drleaf.com/
