Finding Peace in Your Emotions: Living Out John 3:30
I hear this passage referenced a lot. You probably know it too. In John 3:30, John the Baptist says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John is talking about Jesus’ lordship—His authority, His provision, His rule, and the fact that He is our ultimate source of joy. John’s saying, Don’t look at me, look at Jesus!
It’s a beautiful reminder to shift our attention to the One who truly matters. But let’s be real—what if that’s hard to do? What if your emotions feel too big, too loud, and too overwhelming to just set aside and focus on God?
I’m so glad you asked.
When Emotions Feel Like the Problem
I talk to so many Christians who genuinely want to focus on the Lord, but their emotions seem to hijack their attention. They start seeing their feelings as the enemy—intruders that get in the way of their faith. So, they try to push them down, ignore them, or force themselves to be more grateful in hopes that the bad feelings will just disappear.
Have you ever done that? Have you ever tried to logic your way out of sadness? To tell yourself you shouldn’t feel angry? To plaster on a smile and push through, hoping the emotions will eventually go away?
A lot of Christians think, If I could just stop feeling this way, I’d be able to focus more on God. I get why that makes sense—when emotions feel like they’re in the driver’s seat, they do steal our attention. But here’s the thing: the problem isn’t the emotions. The problem is not knowing what to do with them.
Emotions Aren’t the Enemy
Here’s some good news: Your emotions aren’t good or bad—they’re just information. They’re signals, telling you something about what’s going on inside. But if you don’t know how to process them, they can feel overwhelming and disruptive.
Last week, I was working with my client Jen (not her real name). She’s been on a journey of learning to handle her emotions instead of running from them. In our session, I guided her through feeling anger—anger she had been carrying for decades. And as she allowed herself to fully feel it, something incredible happened.
Beneath the anger, she discovered another emotion—compassion.
Once she processed the feeling she didn’t like (anger), she felt relief. And then, something even more beautiful—she found grace for the person who had hurt her.
In other words, Jen got out of her own way. And when she did, she connected with God’s grace for herself and extended that same grace to someone else. She decreased, and Christ increased.
What About You?
These moments in therapy remind me why I do this work. It’s amazing to witness how God moves when we make space for healing.
So, what about you? Is it time for you to get out of your own way so that you can live out John 3:30 more fully?
What will happen if you don’t make any changes?
If emotions feel like a roadblock in your faith, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Learning to process your feelings in a healthy, God-honoring way can bring you closer to Him—not further away. And as you start to work through them, you just might find yourself experiencing more grace, more peace, and more of Him.
Appointments
Ready to get out of your own way? Call (601) 362-7020 to make an appointment with Caty.
