“Jesus take the emotion”

Instead of “Jesus take the wheel” it should be “Jesus take the emotion”

Maybe you’ve heard it before. Maybe as a kid, maybe from a friend, a family member, or even a mentor:

"You're too emotional."

"Woe is you, you always feel sorry for yourself."

"Can you talk to Rae Anne? She's too emotional."

"You're just too sensitive."

I have!

Those words stung. Deeply. I used to get so frustrated with myself, why do I feel everything so intensely? Why are my emotions so overwhelming? Growing up in chaos, addiction, and domestic violence, my heart learned to feel everything at full volume. Pain, fear, compassion for others in hurt, it all hit hard. And when people weaponize this against me, it made me question if something was wrong with me?

But here's the truth I've come to embrace: The very thing the world criticizes in you is often the exact gifting God has placed on your life.

God knew the calling on my life before anyone else did, long before the comments, the eye-rolls, or the dismissals. He was setting me up to live in my purpose: talking about Jesus and emotions through the lens of the 12 Steps. 

The world sees emotions as a negative thing, a weakness, a shortcoming, something to suppress or apologize for. But God created emotions. The problem usually isn't that we have them; it's how we perceive and use them.

In my journey with Jesus and the 12 Steps, I've often called addiction "the disease of emotion." Every single addiction or internal struggle can usually be traced back to an emotion that was suppressed, left unhealed, or was left to take charge and dictate our thoughts and our hearts. I've sat with many people,whether it sponsoring or circling up,where the details of their lives might look different, but the emotions were always the same: shame that says "I'm worthless," fear that whispers "You'll never be safe," anger that screams "This isn't fair," or the deep ache of abandonment that makes you reach for anything that numbs the pain.

And it's not just addiction. Almost everything in life leads back to undealt-with emotions: broken families, crumbling marriages, fractured friendships. Even the ugly fights you see exploding across social media every single day,it's rarely about the actual issue. It's about how someone feels, hurt, unseen, disrespected, afraid and that feeling was never brought into the light.

Think about it: God Himself experiences emotions. Scripture shows Him feeling love (Jeremiah 31:3), compassion (Psalm 103:13), joy (Zephaniah 3:17), even anger and grief (Genesis 6:6). And Jesus,fully God, fully human,felt it all!!!! He wept at Lazarus's tomb (John 11:35), felt deep compassion for the crowds (Matthew 9:36), got angry at injustice in the temple (John 2:13-17), and was moved with sorrow in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). If the perfect Son of God expressed deep emotions, why would we think feeling emotions is a flaw?

Emotions are meant to be indicators, not dictators. They're signals from our hearts, pointing to deeper needs, hurts, joys, or areas where we need God most. They're God's way of talking to us, reminding us where we're in need of Him.

Instead of fighting my feelings or letting them rule me, I now pause and ask:

"I am feeling [anxious / angry / overwhelmed / joyful]... God, why am I feeling this? What are You trying to say to me?"

This simple, honest prayer turns emotional moments into intimate conversations with God. It's like the psalmist's cry in Psalm 139:23-24:

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

When we bring our emotions to Him, without shame, we invite Him to search our hearts, reveal truth, heal wounds, and guide us. We start to heal! 

If you've ever been told you're "too much," hear this: You're not broken. You're not weak. You're wired the way God intended for depth, for empathy, for connection, for pointing others to Jesus through honest, feeling hearts.

The world may call it sensitivity or over-emotional or weakness,God says hey let’s talk a bit.

So next time those old voices creep in, remember: Emotions aren't the enemy. They're an invitation. Lean in. Ask God what He's saying. And watch how He turns what once felt like a burden into beautiful purpose.

What emotion is speaking to you right now? Bring it to Him today. He's listening and He's not surprised or overwhelmed by it. He's the One who gave it to you.

Always face the Sonlight,

Rae Anne