How to Deal with How You Feel

This Sunday we wrapped up our How to Deal with How You Feel series with a message on two emotions that quietly shape much of our spiritual life: surprise and anticipation. This final week reminded us that emotions are great indicators but terrible dictators, and that God invites us to surrender what we feel instead of suppressing it.

Surprise is the brain’s rapid attention switch. It disrupts our plans and forces us to respond. Some surprises feel like warning lights; others feel like gifts. All of them become invitations to trust God in ways we did not plan. Scripture shows again and again how God works through holy interruptions, unexpected moments, and divine detours.

Anticipation prepares our hearts for what has not yet happened. It can move us toward hope, faith, and readiness, or drift toward worry and anxiety when we try to control outcomes. Anticipation becomes healthy when it leads us to abide, not strive. Anticipation has the opportunity to turn into anxiety or abiding.

This week we considered these truths:

• A life without surprise leaves little room for faith to grow.

• Anticipation is not passive waiting; it is active pursuit of the Lord’s plans.

• Genuine faith makes room to anticipate God moving and to be surprised by His grace.

• When surprise hits, surrender the moment. When anticipation stirs anxiety, surrender the outcome.

We also practiced a simple way to navigate any emotion:

Pause.
Process.
Proceed.

As we finish this series, my hope is that you feel more equipped to recognize what you feel, surrender it to God, and walk with Him in both the unexpected moments and the waiting seasons.