Freedom to feel, just not the freedom to act.

Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

The freedom to feel, not the freedom to act.

Most of our lives as Christ followers are not lived in the delicate balance of the above statement. I say delicate because our lives are a complexity of feelings, emotions, thoughts, and circumstances. Most people find themselves in one of two places concerning their feelings. Either my feelings are the truest part of myself and therefore deserve unparalleled allegiance, or my feelings are rooted in my flesh and therefore are always twisted and laced with sinful motive and should never be trusted. Either “ditch” is a place, that if lived in to long, can become crippling to our journey with the Lord.

So what do we do with our feelings? How are we to treat them in the context of how we live our day to lives?

In looking at the garden account of Gethsemane, we see this paradox of freedom to feel, but not freedom to act, lived out in full color by Jesus himself. Matthew 26: 39 “ My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

It couldn’t be clearer that Jesus desire was to not have to suffer what He knew was about to transpire. In the account in Matthew he asked this three times of the Father to take this “cup from him”. Jesus even states that “his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” to his disciples in verse 38. His feelings on the matter were infinitely clear. He sweated drops of blood as result of anguish over knowing the cross he was about to bear (Luke 22:44). Still he felt as Gods son the full freedom to communicate this to the Father. I have often wondered why, if Jesus knew that the cross was coming, and that it was clearly the will of the father for him to bear it, would he still communicate this desire to the Father. What good could come of it? Why be honest and reveal the true desire of your heart if nothing is possibly going to change? How is it that Jesus could be so honest about what he desired, and yet live and act out of the second part of his statement “thy will be done?” Although I believe there are a myriad of complexities to consider here, many far beyond my grasp, I would offer a few considerations that, although they do not wrap up neatly this matter entirely, do offer some direction for such a pervasive issue as our feelings.



I would suggest that most Christians only do half of Gethsemane. We say, “your will be done”, but never feel the freedom to express to God the depth of our desire concerning the matter at hand. This inevitably leads to a relational disconnect with God the Father, and consequently to a bitter heart and flawed thinking concerning the Father, and in particular his heart towards us. This relational disconnect also keeps us from something else absolutely vital, namely experiencing God himself, the only one who can give us the comfort and peace we need, which fuels our wills to trust his plan over ours.

Philippians 4:6-7 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.

I don’t think that what Paul is saying is that if you have anxiety about your life then something is wrong with you. I think that the anxiety that God is warning against is the anxiety of bringing our hearts to him. It is not so much a statement of “if you find yourself anxious, don’t be” but rather “when you find yourself anxious, come to me” and let me give you peace, let me protect and guard your heart. Let me give you myself. I will be your peace (Micah 5:5)

Colossians 3:15- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you wee called to peace.

It is difficult for two things two sit on the thrones of our hearts at one time. In fact it is impossible. In a culture that celebrates feelings as having the highest value, it is safe to say that what “rules” most of our hearts are those very emotions. It is only though spirit initiated and sustained willingness that our feelings can be replaced on the throne of our hearts with Christ’s peace.