by Neil Anderson
September 6
Psalm 32:3 NIV
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long
Suppression of emotions is a conscious denial of feelings (repression is an un conscious denial). Those who suppress their emotions ignore their feelings and choose not to deal with them. Suppression is an unhealthy response to your emotions.
King David had something to say about the negative impact of suppressing his feelings in his relationship with God: “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . Let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him” (Psalm 32:3, 6 NIV ). David is not saying that God takes Himself out of our reach. When extraneous circumstances loom larger to you than God, it will not take long for your emotions to overcome you. When suppressed emotions build up within you like “mighty waters,” you won’t turn to God. Your emotions will be in control. It’s important to open up to God while you can, because if you bottle up your feelings too long, it will disrupt the harmony of your relationship with Him.
David also commented on the impact of suppression on relationships with people: “I said, ‘I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle, while the wicked are in my presence.’ I was dumb and silent, I refrained every from good; and my sorrow grew worse” (Psalm 39:1, 2).
Don’t cover over your emotions. Suppression isn’t good for you, for others, or for your relationship with God. God knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and others can sense that something is wrong, because more is communicated nonverbally than verbally. When the verbal doesn’t match the nonverbal, people believe the nonverbal. If we don’t accurately express what we believe, people will believe our nonverbal messages about what we believe. Don’t leave room for guesswork. Instead, “Speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
Prayer: Lord, I want to live in honest agreement with You and others. Give me the grace to speak the truth in love.
Greg is a strong believer in Jesus Christ and in the need for revival in today’s Church. He likes reading, writing, music, and spending time with his family and his dog Roxie. By day he is a self-employed non-emergency medical transport driver, and is the Editor-in-Chief for the National War Council, as well as being a political analyst, author, blogger, and an accomplished DIYer. His articles are first published on Inspirational Christian Blogs, and I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!, and from there the articles are published on other well-known conservative websites.
The author feels convinced that the Church is in extreme danger of being forsaken by God for being unbiblical and seeks to warn all those with “ears to hear.” He believes we are in the last days of the end times, and that God is building His Remnant Church even now.
Greg is the author of: Spiritual Darkness is Destroying America and the Church and
The Jehovah’s Witnesses: Dedicated Servants or Dangerous Heretics?
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Categories: INSPIRATIONAL DEVOTIONS
No Space for the Enemy’s Foothold 
The One I Love
Hi Greg: When I first became a Christ follower someone said that God knows even our thoughts. Holy molly did that open the door! From then on I tell Him everything; the good, the bad, and the ugly but we do have to be discerning about doing that with people. I realize what you’re saying here but not everyone is as accepting or as understanding as my Lord and many have been hurt by the church as well as individuals. Caution does have to play a role.
Hi Sue, I agree but I think what Neil was trying to say here is to not allow things to be suppressed, to cover over issues and “live with it”.
That approach seldom works and usually causes more problems than the original problem itself. Some things can and should be left unsaid but serious issues need to be dealt with before they become a cancer of the soul.
As to the Church, well unfortunately often the Church does a poor job of things and one is better off to keep any issues out of the Church and handle them with other trusted brothers and sisters outside the Church arena. Many in the Church are highly judgmental and this causes so many problems for so many.
As you said, caution is warranted. It is not supposed to be this way but that is the reality of today’s Church.
Thanks Sue always appreciate your comments! 🙂
Blessings
Greg