I want to reflect on what I believe to be two misconceptions about feelings. The first one is that feelings have to be squelched. I heard a preacher once encourage people who are losing their faith to  bypass their feelings and stand on the truth of God's word. I admit that that this could be encouraging. However, there is an underlying assumption here- that the person "feels" that the God behind the bible is trustworthy. If that is not the case, then the encouragement does not go anywhere. it does not matter if we say we believe the bible because of the manuscript and historical evidence because those things don't prove that the God of the bilble is trustworthy personally. The words may actually be written when it says it was written but that does not prove that a good God whom we can trust in our circumstances is behind the bible. Faith requires a leap- a feeling needs to develop. Hatred for God might as well be the feeling that gets evoked by historical investgation, especially if a person just sees a God  of judgment in scriptures and somehow does not get grabbed by the grace of God. I believe because when I see the Jesus presented in the bible, I can't help but believe. Reason does not bring about faith but a supernatural work of God's Spirit. His Spirit connects with our Spirit and faith develops, just like love developing between two persons. 

     My point is that we always are influenced by our feelings. Therefore, it makes no sense to insinuate that we could let feelings go. I believe it makes more sense to pray that  God heal that feeling. The second misconcetion is that feelings are neutral, its the way it is expressed that has moral implications. It is widely believed that there is nothing wrong with being angry, but exressing it violenty is what is wrong. However, in the final chapter of Jonah, God questioned (he did not affirm it) Jonah's anger at God taking away his shade. God questioned his anger at the loss  of the shade but his uncaring attitude for the Ninevites who would have faced God's judgment. God called out Jonah for being so self-focused. Maybe our anger at things in our lives may be a reflection of our desire to be in complete control, our unforgiveness, our selfishness. Anger needs to be examined and may point to something we need to repent of. We need to ask God to forgive us for feeling anger when it is rooted in the flesh. God requires us to praise him, which is a  feeling as much as an action.