Dr. Childs explains, “Simply put, emotions are our responses to people, places, things, or situations. Sometimes, they can even trigger physical reactions. We should often remind ourselves that emotions aren’t inherently good or bad—they simply exist.” Further, emotions are feelings like happiness, love, fear, anger, or hatred, often influenced by our environment or the people around us. Every human being experiences emotions; they are a natural and psychological response to circumstances. What determines whether an emotion is viewed as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is how a person chooses to respond to it.
Understanding Emotions
Imagine you’re undergoing a month-long selection process at a military camp and, during that time, you receive news of your father’s passing. You’re faced with two choices: leave immediately or complete the selection process and then return home. You might choose the latter because your father always taught you to never leave anything unfinished, believing that perseverance leads to success.
Whichever choice you make, it stems from a psychological response to your emotions. The first reaction is more instinctive, while the second is a deliberate decision. Both, however, arise from emotional responses to a difficult situation. Choosing to stay might later trigger feelings of guilt, shaped by others’ opinions, which in turn is yet another emotional reaction.
When others provoke our anger, it is often best to remain calm. However, avoiding such individuals to preserve your peace might lead to feelings of loneliness. This emotional struggle is echoed in the Psalms: “I am lonely and afflicted”(Psalm 25:16). The Psalms also reflect other deep emotions like love, awe, and sorrow.
- Love: “I love you, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1)
- Awe: “Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (Psalm 33:8)
- Sorrow: “My life is spent with sorrow” (Psalm 31:10)
Using Our Emotions Against Us
When people from all walks of life begin to criticize our circumstances without truly understanding them, we often distance ourselves and end up feeling isolated. It’s painful when no one understands the choices we made, and yet they interfere with our lives, sometimes with the power to damage them. This sense of loneliness can become overwhelming. Many succumb to this emotional burden, and without a healthy outlet, grief builds up inside, leading to deep emotional oppression. It is in such vulnerable moments that the devil seizes the opportunity to manipulate our emotions for his purposes.
The Bible illustrates this through the story of Cain. He experienced the pain of rejection, and although God addressed his emotional state directly, Cain allowed the devil to fuel his growing rage. Instead of responding to God’s guidance, he gave in to his emotions and ultimately murdered his own brother. Tragically, he showed no remorse for his actions, demonstrating the destructive power of unchecked emotions.
Another biblical example is Martha. Her feeling of being left alone in service disrupted the peace of her household. Hospitality and cooking were part of her daily routine—things she did with joy. She welcomed Jesus into her home, an act of love. Yet, her emotional outburst—“I am left to serve alone and Jesus does nothing about it”—shifted the atmosphere. Although everything seemed positive in the home of Martha and Mary, the devil stirred Martha’s emotions to try and draw Mary away from the Word of God. Often, this is how the devil works—using our emotions to distract others from God’s truth.
This manipulation is also evident during spiritual gatherings. The devil stirs hidden emotions in people, causing them to shout, cry out, or exhibit dramatic manifestations. Attention is diverted from the Word of God to the emotional spectacle. Even the preacher might become absorbed in the display, using it to showcase his authority over demons, seeking admiration from the crowd. What began as a gathering to hear God’s Word turns into a performance fueled by emotion. The people, stirred into awe—a powerful emotion—respond not to the Spirit, but to the scene. And thus, the devil turns even a spiritual setting into a platform for distraction. Remember what Jesus said about such circumstances and people,
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. – Luke 11:23 (NIV).
A Case Study
God had blessed Peninnah with children, and instead of responding with gratitude, she allowed her joy to turn into pride. Consumed by this emotion, she used her status as a mother to provoke Hannah, stirring up anger and frustration in her. Peninnah’s actions were not just personal—they were strategic. She attempted to make Hannah feel unloved, even by her husband Elkanah, aiming to dissuade her from seeking closeness with him and thereby preventing her from conceiving at the appointed time God had set. As Scripture says:
“Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.” – 1 Samuel 1:6 (NIV)
Many times, when a blessing from God is near, the devil works to scatter our focus and draw us away from Him, keeping us from receiving what He has prepared for us. Although we know that every good and perfect gift comes from above, our emotions, when unchecked, can distort our perspective and cause us to miss God’s blessing. Often, the devil exploits our emotional vulnerability, even offering temporary or counterfeit blessings to keep us satisfied and distracted, so that we stop seeking God wholeheartedly. Or he causes such emotional disturbance that we focus more on the situation than on the God who controls it.
When we face such spiritual attacks, we must not panic. These disruptions often signal that God is at work and that a blessing is near. The devil would try so hard to deceive us if our success were not certain in God. His efforts are meant to drive a wedge between us and our source—God. So when these moments come, our response should be to hold fast to God and deny the enemy victory.
If we reflect on our past, we may recognize times when blessings were close, but the devil’s interference—through people, emotions, or situations—caused us to lose focus and ultimately miss what God had planned, resulting in grief, regret, and loss.
But Hannah responded differently. Though deeply grieved and in sorrow, she didn’t turn away from God—she turned toward Him. The more we remain attached to people who are being used by the enemy to manipulate our emotions, the more disturbed and distant from God we become. On the other hand, when we choose to step back from such individuals, their weapons—emotional or otherwise—lose their power over us.
Therefore, the first and most important step is to remain close to God during such trials. That’s exactly what Hannah did. In time, she saw God’s purpose fulfilled in her life and rejoiced. She later understood that her barrenness was not a denial, but a purposeful delay—God was aligning her timeline with the downfall of Eli’s sons, so that her son Samuel could rise to fulfil God’s plan.
The Remedy
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8–9 (NIV)
When we are attacked by the enemy—especially through feelings of rejection and emotional pain—we must turn immediately to God, who never turns anyone away. Too often, we depend on people, only to be rejected when they see we have no support. This leaves our hearts crushed. Instead of wasting time seeking comfort from unreliable sources, we should bring everything—our burdens, pain, and confusion—to God. These are what Jesus referred to as “our cross.” In such times, we must fix our minds on His Word, ignoring the hurtful voices that torment us. These inner battles arise when we stray from our true calling.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” – Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)
When the devil whispers that no one loves or accepts us, we must not be anxious or believe the lie—because the devil is a liar. Instead, we must remember God’s unchanging love. He gave His only Son to die in our place. That is the truth we must cling to.
When Paul speaks of “prayer and petition,” he is not merely referring to a list of daily needs. He speaks of deeper spiritual matters—our transformation into the likeness of Christ, the development of the fruit of the Spirit, and the softening of our hardened hearts that resist God’s work. “Petition” reflects a heart crying out for God to complete what He started in us.
Paul also mentions “thanksgiving.” This is not just about thanking God when life is good—or even forcing gratitude when things go wrong. True thanksgiving is rooted in recognizing what God has already done: He saved us from eternal death, paid the ransom with His Son’s life, and gave us eternal life. When we thank God for this greatest gift, we declare our awareness of the truth—and the devil flees. He can no longer manipulate us through the people closest to us or use emotional blackmail to shake our faith.
Once the enemy is silenced, our focus must shift to protect our salvation— as we are called to surrender our lives completely to God as living sacrifices. When we follow these simple yet powerful steps in prayer—bringing our requests, yielding our hearts, and offering thanks—we will receive a peace that surpasses all earthly comforts and blessings.
Remember This
The devil often takes advantage of us when we are emotionally overwhelmed. In contrast, God does not act based on our emotional highs. Instead, He invites us to come to Him just as we are—not so that we can fix ourselves, but because He alone can bring about the change we need. He calls us to rest in His presence with a calm and trusting heart. A peaceful mind, free from anxiety and turmoil, reflects genuine faith in God’s provision and care. The prophet Isaiah spoke to this truth:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
We see this clearly in the life of Hannah. When she was consumed with sorrow and grief, God did not begin His work in her immediately. But when she poured out her heart before Him—laying down all her pain at His feet—God first gave her peace. Only then did He bless her womb. Scripture tells us that after her time in prayer, “her face was no longer downcast.” This shows that peace came before the blessing.
We need to trust in God, let go of the emotions that cloud your faith, and choose to remain still and calm in His presence. “Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).” This truth is also echoed in Hannah’s encounter with Eli:
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”
Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. — 1 Samuel 1:17–18 (NIV)
Many people believe that peace comes after receiving what they’ve asked from God. But true peace must come first—from God Himself—before any visible blessing arrives. It is a sign of surrender and trust.
The Jordan Valley 
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