I often wonder why do our feelings get hurt and would equate these "negative" responses to an inability to handle the many issues of life or a weakness. Later, I found out that this is completely false. Reading over Exodus 20, I began to see that God experienced emotions(not a popular saying) the same as the masterpiece He created. He reminds us that He is a jealous God and warns us not to place another before Him. He doesn't want us spending(wasting) time on something(someone) that does not hold the solution to our struggles. Further, we see Jesus displaying an array of emotions: anger at the actions of hypocritical leadership, sadness at the death of Lazarus, disappointment at the disciples lack of trust during a storm, anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane, and abandonment at Calvary. Seeing these emotional responses from God helped me to view hurt feelings in a more positive light. God designed these "negative" emotions as an internal warning system and a first line of defense to guard our hearts and minds against potential or impending danger. They put us on alert that something is not as it seems and to proceed with extreme caution. They are like the check engine light on a car or a smoke detector sounding off. The lights and sounds doesn't always indicate danger, but they do save lives. Because we have been conditioned to view the light or the sound as the problem, we fail to look beneath the surface to get to the real issue that caused the warning to go off in the first place. Even though hurt feelings may not feel good, they are still a gift from God. So, be thankful for the disappointments and embrace being uncomfortable, for a little while. They both could be saving you from something you are not prepared to handle right now.
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