Bible Verses on Managing Emotions

If you want Bible verses to help manage your emotions, understand this…

THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA!

God’s Word is powerful (Heb 4:12)! But please understand that these Bible verses on managing your emotions are not to be taken as a magic formula or a quick fix. If you expect immediate and permanent success you will be greatly disappointed.

Being an emotional yo-yo I have to actively and intentionally apply these truths every single day of my life, sometimes even moment by moment.

It takes time, effort, and humility for transformation to take place in a believer’s life. Sanctification (becoming more like Jesus) is a process. Feelings are part of our makeup, so they too need to be sanctified.

Think of it as a partnership—with God doing His divine part and you doing yours. Your part is to take the time to read, meditate, and apply these Bible verses with a willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart and mind (Rom 12:2). Trust that God will most assuredly do His part.

As you let the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth with these Bible verses on emotions, you will see a change in how you deal with your feelings. In time, and in increasing measure, you will discover—as this wacky yo-yo has—that it is worth it!

These Bible verses do work as long as you do your part of the work!

Below are just a few of the many verses found in the Bible. They will be enough to get you started. I’ve given you specific as well as some general verses to help you in your battle of regaining control of your emotions. See this blog for why specific verses are so important for success.

BIBLE VERSES ON MANAGING EMOTIONS

General

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:31-32)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:1-2)

You, my brothers, were called to be free….So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal 5:13,16-17, 22-25)

But my righteous one will live by faith. (Heb 10:38)

FEAR

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15)

…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Jos 1:5-10 )

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is 41:10)

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. (Jer 1:8)

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? …Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. (Deut 10:12-13, 20-21)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

I sought the LORD , and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. (Ps 34:4-9)

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. (Ps 112:6-8)

See also Ps 27, Ps 46, Jn 14:27, Lk 12:4-7, Rom 8:31-39, Heb 13:5-6, Rev 2:10

WORRY

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Mat 6:25-33)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. (Phil 4:6-8)

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:41-42)

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Ps 9:10)

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. (Ps 52:8)

GUILT/SHAME

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-2)

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Ps 32:5)

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Ps 34:5)

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him… (Ps 103:11-12)

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Is 6:5-7)

The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. (Is 25:8)

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy….

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:10-14, 19-22)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)

See also Ps 130:3-4, Is 29:19-22, Jer 50:20, Micah 7:19, Heb 9: 11-14

WORTHLESSNESS

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deut 7:6)

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Ps 8:3-4)

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Ps 18:19)

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. (Ps 139:17-18)

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…. (Is 43:4)

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Mat 6:26)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3:12)

See also 1 Cor 6:20, 1 Cor 12:12-26, Gal 3:29, Heb 8:10

IMPATIENCE

I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. (Ps 38:15)

A patient man has great understanding…. (Pr 14:29)

A man’s wisdom gives him patience…. (Pr 19:11)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Eccl 7:8-9)

“Woe…to those who say, ‘Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it….” (Is 5:18)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.(Col 3:12)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus…. (Rev 1:9)

ANGER

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold…. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph 4: 26-27, 30-32)

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Ps 37:8-9)

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (Pr 29:11)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Pr 15:1)

These Bible verses do work! Now do your part and apply them!

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Scripture taken from the The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.