Emotional posture
How should we pray when our emotions are all over the place?
I have so much to say about this one, but I’ll hold back.
I am a crier.
I’m super emotional compared to most other men I have met.
My oldest daughter is so sweet and she just comes up and cuddles with me, wipes away my tears, and smiles at me until I smile back.
And she is such an example of how God treats us when emotions are high.
“Emotional posture” I’ll call it, is important because…too often, especially with men, we try to bury everything so deep no one can find it.
And we have the audacity to think God doesn’t know how we really feel.
Yet, God is okay with our tears, our screams, our temper tantrums.
God just smiles, comforts us, and wipes away those tears. Not because they are bad, but because they are blocking our view of the one smiling at us.
And when we can come to God prepared to give God everything we have, laying it all on the table, and humbling ourselves emotionally…then we can begin to experience that comfort and feel that smile of The One Who Loves Us More Than Anything.
Special note to the men out there—it’s okay to cry. It doesn’t make you weak. It doesn’t make you lesser. It just is what it is. And God wants all that you have to give, tears and all.
One last note: if you read this post, then you know I talked about humbling yourself physically before God. And I said I was going to do it. And I just want you to know that I did and it was…an experience. I hadn’t cried into carpet before, but I have now.
My prayer for today
Our Father, give us more of you. And help each of us give more of ourselves, even the wildest emotional parts we try to tuck away from everyone else. Spirit, please give us the comfort that “passes all understanding.” Amen.
Remember
Next time your emotions are running away from you, practice a breath prayer and just let it be. Or, if nothing else, schedule some time where you can pray and let it all out.