Emotional Yo-Yo? How God Can Use Your Emotions to Deepen Your Awareness of Him

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I admit it. I’m an emotional yo-yo. Yet I have learned that my emotions can be used for good and even bring glory to God—when I surrender them to His control.

While writing my last book about recognizing God’s presence and intervention in our lives (Seeing God Everywhere: Living in the Conscious Awareness of a Mighty God), I was delighted to discover that God can even use our emotions to help increase our awareness of our wonderful God.

So here are…

4 Ways God Can Use Our Emotions to Deepen Our Awareness of Him

1. Emotions Help Us Remember God’s Faithfulness

Emotionally charged experiences tend to stay with us. We often remember moments of great joy, grief, fear, or relief far more vividly than ordinary events.

This can become a powerful spiritual tool. Think back to a time when God answered a desperate prayer, comforted you during a trial, or made His presence especially real. As you intentionally recall that experience, remember not only what happened but how you felt. Let gratitude rise again and thank Him for His faithfulness.

Likewise, when you recognize God’s hand in your life today—even in small ways—pause and acknowledge it. Savor the moment. The more we reflect on God’s goodness, the more aware we become of His ongoing work in our lives.

2. God Can Redeem Painful Memories

You might be thinking, “I don’t want to remember that painful event!”

Surely, not all memories are pleasant. We all carry painful experiences to one degree or another.

The question is not whether difficult things happened, but how we choose to view them. Scripture reminds us that God is good and that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28). When painful memories surface, we can take those thoughts captive and bring them under the authority of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).

Instead of dwelling only on the hurt, ask God to show you how He sustained you, protected you, or used that experience for your growth. As we align our thinking with His truth, painful memories can become reminders of His faithfulness rather than sources of ongoing distress.

Even our deepest sorrows can become steppingstones toward greater trust in Him.

3. Negative Emotions Reveal Our Deep Need for God

Just as God can redeem painful memories, He can also transform painful emotions. We typically avoid undesirable feelings such as fear, inadequacy, frustration, or discouragement. However, they can serve an important purpose: they remind us how much we need the Lord.

When we feel inadequate for a task God has given us, we can either pull back in defeat or lean into Him for strength. When frustration or weakness surfaces, we can allow it to drive us to prayer.

Every emotional struggle presents an opportunity to depend more fully on God. Our weaknesses become places where His strength shines most clearly. (2 Cor 12:9-10).

4. Negative Emotions Can Tune Our Hearts to God’s

These unwanted negative feelings can also draw us closer to God. “Far too often we short-circuit God’s good purposes for our negative emotions. We crush them, deny them, or escape them rather than letting them do their good and healthy work of driving us to Him.”¹

Instead, we can do as the psalmists did and cry out to God. When we grieve over injustice, broken relationships, or the effects of living in a fallen world, we are often grieving over things that grieve God as well. Our hearts begin to align with His.

Sometimes painful experiences also help us better understand the sufferings of Christ. When we experience rejection, betrayal, or misunderstanding, we gain a small glimpse into what He endured (Phil 3:10-11). Such moments can deepen both our love for Him and our appreciation of His compassion toward us.

So my friend, with God’s help, let us use our emotions—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to glorify God. Ask Him to help you see them as opportunities to deepen your awareness of His presence and grow closer to Him.

Surrender your emotions to God and see Him do amazing things in you and through you!

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^{1. J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith, Untangling Emotions, 129.}