Top 10 Feelings Displayed By God

Have you ever wondered where your emotions come from? Have you ever questioned the "Why" behind our feelings? Is expressing emotions a sign of vulnerability? I contend that all of these things contribute to what defines the human condition. This includes emotions, feelings, and sentiments. You will indeed encounter human emotions in your life if you are a human. Feelings are a fundamental aspect of life; there is no getting around it.

But why are we like this? Why do people experience emotions and feelings? Well, our creation provides the answer. No, I'm not referring to your conception; rather, I'm referring to your creation! According to the Bible, God created us in his likeness and image. In fact, that's exactly what God said: "Then let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Genesis 1:26. Therefore, it is said that God chose to create us in His image. Wow! When you give it serious thought this is incredible. Therefore, this would imply that God gave us both His spiritual and physical characteristics.

We were all created as tiny replicas of God, and the similarity was startling. (Naturally, prior to sin). But hold on! We experience emotions and feelings. Do you mean to say that God also possesses those qualities? When you read your Bible you will find that God does indeed experience feelings and emotions. Since He created us in His image, that is where we actually get them from.

Certainly, sin has tainted our emotions and feelings, but those feelings are still present. Why did God choose to create us in His image? Because He wanted us to be like Him. He even deemed us "good" when He created us! (See Genesis 1:31). Do you have a tendency to believe that emotions and feelings are bad? Do you believe that having emotions and feelings are a sign of vulnerability? Well, the Bible does not say that. According to the Bible, God created us. God has deemed us "good" and has given us feelings and emotions. Given this fact, we can also assume that our capacity to experience emotions is good because we were made in His likeness.

So, if we have feelings, it's because our Father gave them to us! He also has them, so we received them from Him. Yes, God is emotional. Still not convinced? Let me list the top ten emotions that God feels and which are described in the Bible. Ready? Also, see my note at the end. Ok, here goes.

#10 - God experiences grief. Don't believe me? "For forty years I was grieved with that generation,

And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways." Psalms 95:10.

#9 - God experiences sorrow. Don't believe me? "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah 53:3.

#8 - God experiences anger. Don't believe me? "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?

How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?" Job 21:17.

#7 - God experiences jealousy. Don't believe me? "You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me." Exodus 20:5.

#6 - God experiences sadness. In fact, He experiences enough sadness to bring Him to tears! "Jesus wept." John 11:35.

#5 - God experiences distress. Don't believe me? "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27.

#4 - God experiences fatherly pride. Don't believe me? "Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" Job 1:8.

#3 - God experiences disgust. Don't believe me? "You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 7:35.

#2 - God experiences amazement. Don't believe me? "When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" Matthew 8:10.

And coming in at #1 (drum roll) - God experiences joy! Yes, joy! Don't believe me? "His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:21, 23.

So, did any of these feelings come as a surprise to you? Maybe 'Yes' or maybe 'No'. Regardless, God has feelings and He experiences those feelings just as we do. In fact, the Bible says that "For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15 (KJV).

Take heart, my dear brother and sister. God is not unaware of your emotions. He knows you have them because He has them too. That is why He can empathize with you when you are experiencing these emotions - good or bad. What a blessing to have a God that can relate to us and how we feel! To this we can all say, thank you, Father. Thank you for understanding.

PS - Notice that I did not include 'Love' as a feeling. I did not include it because I have always said that love is NOT a feeling - it's a decision. Feelings are temporary, love is permanent. John 3:16 was a decision. God didn't make that promise based on a temporary feeling. It was a decision He made permanently. Think about it.

Until next time my fellow pilgrims!