Whenever I go to retreats or speakers or even worship with a whole bunch of Christian kids I usually see a ton of people crying because of how much they feel God.
It’s absolutely amazing how much God can be a presence in a room. But whenever I go to those conferences, whenever I see those people crying, I’m not one of them. I hardly ever am that person who’s weeping because of what God’s been showing them—I’m the one who will go home and write to God about it in her prayer journal.
For a while because of this, to be honest, I felt like I was a lesser Christian. Why didn’t I feel God in the way that other people did? Why wasn’t I so amazed by his presence?
I struggled with this for a while, but then, after reading an author’s blog post, I realized that God is not an emotion.
That being said, that does not mean that God isn’t an emotional God. He displays himself through emotions, he causes emotions, and he has emotions—but he is not an emotion.
Just because I don’t always cry because I loved a speaker or a song or a message doesn’t mean I didn’t experience God. The problem I find with a lot of teens is that they get so caught up in the rush that you get when you feel God’s presence that they forget about being his servant even when you can’t feel him. When you can’t feel God, when you can’t be sure that he’s there by relying on your feelings or senses, it’s a lot harder to believe him.
I know a lot of teenagers who are extremely emotional when they hear speakers or songs, but do not follow God during the rest of the week. I think everyone does.
Let me say this: just because you are extremely convicted after a message enough that you begin to cry because of God’s presence, or just because you get extremely emotional whenever you are in a church setting does not mean that you are a better Christian than someone else. It does not mean that you understand God better. It doesn’t even mean that you are a Christian.
Christians are not meant to follow God only when we can feel him—we are told to follow God even when he is silent. Even when it feels like he’s abandoned you—because he never has. You are a Christian when you do something about those emotions that God has given you—when you follow where he wants you to go. When you refuse to live your life in sin, but surrender everything to Him. You can’t do that when you rely on God as an emotion.
Feeling God’s presence is an amazing experience—don’t get me wrong.
But unless we can follow him when we can’t feel him, we’re not worthy for God’s kingdom.
I believe in the sun
Even when it`s not shining
I believe in love
Even when I can`t feel it
And I believe in God
Even when he is silent
(Barlowgirl–I believe in love)
Becca
Personally for me I have always craved that feeling, and today you taught me somethings I almost forgot…God is sometimes silent. At times I am overwellmd by his presense in worship and feel a lil fustreted when I don’t get that feeling back. Thank you very much God bless you. Tola from New Zealand
[…] I know my oldest daughter prays a ton on her own, too. She has a prayer diary she keeps, and she writes in it at least 15 minutes a day, writing out her prayers. She also spends other time just talking to God. She has blogged about it and talked to me about it. Here’s a post where my analytical daughter, for instance, talks about how God is not only an emotion. […]
Another great post. I have had this one sitting in my inbox meaning to reply to it. You have a lot of insight for one so young. I wish I had had so much at that age. I did feel very pressured (indirectly always) in college to have emotional experiences at retreats and conferences and the like. And I don’t think emotion is bad in out Christian walk. But I also think emotion can mask a lot. It is a lot like romantic love. The couple that is fawning all over each other is not necessarily the one that is going to last long-term. There can be very deep waters under very calm surfaces. I go to a pretty sedate church, worship-wise, and I am sure others look at it and think that it is boring or that God is not much at work there. But that is completely not true. Sometimes the biggest things happen in the quietest times and settings. It is when all the emotion and energy is swept away that you know what you really have and if it is solid or not (and that applies to romantic love again too).
Hey, great post… :)
I really enjoyed reading this. I know that God isn’t impressed by what our emotions are; He wants us to follow Him no matter what. What I often struggle with is that although I don’t cry that easily, I do feel moved by the Holy Spirit at youth conferences and things like that. But I have to ask myself, “Am I just feeling emotional or am I actually feeling convicted?” Same when I’m worshipping. I have to ask myself if I’m just being emotional when I worship, or if I’m actually worshipping.
Something else I sometimes have to ask myself is if I’m just really liking the song or if I’m actually worshipping God.
Great post though; I really enjoyed reading it!!
Emily
This is just my personal opinion, but you are stronger in your walk than those others. Now yes, I do cry sometimes when God is really changing people, but it is often bc I see people who I’ve been praying for or know where they are coming from give their lives to Christ. I do not belive anything is wrong with tears and emotions… the problem comes in when they cry at the alter, but nothing changes. make sense? Love the post though!! :)
Yes!That’s what I was trying to say. :) I just see so many people who are simply Christians and simply go up to the alter because they want to seem spiritual, and that bothers me. But whenever I see some of my friends going up because they are genuinely being moved by the Holy Spirit, I’ll go up and pray with them, I’ll be there for them to talk with, and I’ll support them the whole way. It’s all the people who simply use their emotions and use God only on Sundays, and then change for the rest of the week that bother me.
Thanks so much for the comment! :)
Becca