Should I Follow My Emotions?

I once almost moved to Bali because I had a really good cup of coffee and the beach smelt like freedom. I stood there, arms stretched, hair tangled, heart pounding like a Hillsong bridge, and thought this is it. This is my destiny. I was ready to book a one-way ticket and start a coconut business called "Thy Will Be Done (on Earth as it is in Bali)." Fortunately, I didn't.

Because five days later, I got a mild sunburn, a mosquito bit my eyelid, and I wanted to go home to my bed, my aircon, and my overpriced Singapore bubble tea.

So… should I follow my emotions? Or not?

Spoiler: sometimes they lead you to worship God in a field with tear-stained cheeks.
Other times? They lead you to text your ex at 2:17am while eating cereal with your fingers.

Welcome to the Christian life, where feelings are real, but not always right. And that, my friend, is where the plot thickens.

What Are Emotions, Really?

Emotions are not bad. They’re just not boss.
They’re like children in a car. You don’t throw them in the trunk and ignore them. But you also don’t give them the wheel and let them steer.

And yet in today’s world, people practically treat their feelings like GPS.
If it feels good, do it.
If it feels wrong, flee.
If it feels hard, it must not be God.
Except… where’s that in Scripture?

Paul felt despair. Jesus wept. David journaled his way through what looks suspiciously like a depressive spiral (read Psalms much?).
But none of them let emotions make their decisions for them.

They let truth lead, and let emotions catch up.

“But God Gave Me These Emotions, Right?”

Yes, but He also gave you a brain. And Scripture. And community.
Emotions are messengers, not masters.
They’re signals. Warnings. Little flags waving on the field that say, Hey! Something’s up! Pay attention!
But they’re not infallible.

In fact, Jeremiah 17:9 is pretty clear:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (ESV)

So yes, your heart can sometimes hear from God.
And yes, your heart can also tell you to buy glow-in-the-dark sneakers at 3am because you "deserve it."
Test the spirits. Don’t trust the vibe blindly.

The Emotion vs. Truth War (It’s Real)

There’s this battle no one really talks about but everyone feels.
It’s when your feelings say one thing and the Bible says another.
When your emotion says “God abandoned me” but Scripture says “He will never leave you.”
When your gut says “I’m not loved” but Jesus went to the cross screaming “Yes, you are.”

And I get it. Sometimes truth feels far away and feelings are loud and close.
But that’s where the whole walking by faith thing kicks in.
Faith is not walking by what feels right. It’s walking by what is right.
Even if your knees are trembling and your emotions are shouting mutiny.

When Emotions Lie to You (And They Do)

You ever wake up and feel like you’re completely unloved and useless and God is ignoring you and your life is flatlining?
Yeah. That’s not the Holy Spirit.

That’s spiritual warfare, hormonal chaos, last night’s Netflix cliffhanger, or some combination of all three.
This is why Paul tells us to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Because some thoughts are just wrong.
Some emotions are rooted in past trauma, fear, or anxiety.

And that’s okay. You’re not broken or sinful for feeling them.
But you are called to test them.

Ask:

Is this emotion aligned with what Scripture says?
Is it pushing me toward Jesus or away from Him?
Is it producing peace or panic?

What Does the Bible Say About Following Your Heart?

Okay, get ready. Because this is the part most people don't want to hear.
The Bible never says "follow your heart."
That’s Disney. Not Jesus.

Instead, the Bible says:

“Guard your heart.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” (Proverbs 3:5)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

See the twist?
You don’t follow your heart.
You let God transform it, shape it, and then follow Him.

Only then will your heart want what’s actually good.

So... Do I Follow My Emotions or Not?

Short answer: Sometimes.
Longer answer: Only if they’re aligned with truth.

Emotions are meant to respond to God’s truth, not replace it.
When you hear from the Holy Spirit, it can feel emotional. Deeply emotional. That’s beautiful.
But you always filter it through Scripture.
If your "leading" contradicts the Bible, it’s not God.

Feelings can be holy.
They can also be hormonal, self-centered, or sugar-triggered.
So walk with wisdom.
Bring your emotions to Jesus.
Let Him validate, correct, hold, or heal them.

And stop assuming that just because it feels right, it must be.
Sometimes God calls you to stay when you want to run.
To forgive when you want revenge.
To rest when you want to strive.
To move forward when you’re terrified.

None of those feel comfortable.
But they’re often the most holy.

Grayscale Photo of People Raising Their Hands

Final Confession: I Still Cry During Worship (And That’s Okay)

Emotions aren’t bad.
They’re God-designed.
And when surrendered to Him, they’re powerful tools of connection.
But don’t confuse goosebumps with guidance.
Don’t base your faith on vibes.
Base it on truth.
The truth of a God who stays when your feelings leave.
The truth of Scripture that stands even when your soul doesn’t.

Follow Jesus.
Bring your emotions along for the ride.
Just don’t let them drive.

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FAQ

Q: What does God say about your feelings?

A: God acknowledges your feelings but doesn’t want them to rule you. The Bible shows us that emotions are real and even sacred. Jesus wept, David poured out his heart, and Paul expressed deep sorrow. But while God created emotions, He also calls us to submit them to His truth. Our feelings are not sinful in themselves, but they are not the ultimate authority, God’s Word is.

In Scripture, we’re told to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), renew our minds (Romans 12:2), and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). That means God wants us to bring our feelings to Him. Raw, honest, and unfiltered, but also to let Him shape and lead us beyond them. Emotions can be a guidepost, but only God is the roadmap.

Q: What does the Bible say about making decisions based on emotions?

A: The Bible warns against making decisions based solely on emotions. While feelings can alert us to something important, they’re not always rooted in truth. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful, meaning our emotions can mislead us. That’s why Scripture calls us to seek wisdom, not just emotional clarity, when making choices.

Throughout the Bible, God encourages us to rely on His Word, prayer, wise counsel, and discernment when facing decisions. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust in the Lord, not our own understanding, and He will direct our paths. Emotions can accompany good decisions, but they should never drive them without first being filtered through truth.

Q: Is letting your emotions control you a sin?

A: Letting emotions control you can lead to sin, but the emotion itself isn’t sin. Anger, sadness, fear, and even doubt are part of the human experience and are seen throughout Scripture. What matters is how you respond. When emotions drive your decisions without submission to God’s truth, they can lead you away from His will.

The Bible consistently calls believers to be led by the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16). That means we’re to feel emotions but not be dominated by them. Acting out in anger, bitterness, or lust becomes sin when we give those emotions control instead of surrendering them to Christ. Emotion isn’t the problem, unchecked emotion is.

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Talk to Me

Ever had your emotions totally betray you? Or maybe you once followed your gut and it led somewhere beautiful (or a little unhinged)?
I’d love to hear your story. Share your emotional plot twists in the comments. Let’s wrestle through this together, emotionally and biblically.

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