In this last episode of our miniseries on emotions, Alasdair Groves answers 11 questions submitted by our listeners. We hope these answers are edifying to you! You can read a transcript of this episode here.   Mentioned in this episode: We’re excited to be doing a giveaway of some CCEF-branded items! To enter, visit ccef.org/podcast-giveaway. Winners will be chosen and notified via email on July 5.   Are you looking for an answer to a particular question? See timestamps below to jump to that part of the episode. How does a Christian deal with a tendency to struggle with joy and happiness even when life is relatively good? [3:50] Is it a good thing when we can’t control our emotions? [11:56] Is the emotion of frustration a sin? [18:08] What about people who don’t know what they feel? [23:50] What about when a woman’s monthly period or menopause, where emotions “happen” to us and are not “our fault”? [28:00] How do I manage or overcome strong romantic emotions that are misleading? [35:22] What’s your encouragement for someone who says he’s a thinker, not a feeler? [39:48] What do you do with emotions that you should not act out on, but are still important to process? [42:02] How do you have empathy but also encourage resilience? [45:36] How do we handle anger, jealousy, negative emotions, and other things that may lead to bitterness? [50:55] Can you speak to rumination and sadness over relationships that are over? [54:12] For further study on emotions, we want to recommend to you Untangling Emotions, a book by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith, where they seek to biblically frame emotions and consider how to wisely engage with them.

Is it okay to be happy? Was Jesus happy? Are you happy? Listen as Alasdair Groves considers these three questions. This is episode 5 in a miniseries on emotions, where we are considering how to understand Jesus’s emotions and how that helps us understand our own. Mentioned in this episode: we recently released our latest issue of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, which includes articles on topics such as trauma, the empty nest, faithfulness in marriage, and scrupulosity. Learn more here. Find a transcript of the episode here For more resources on emotions, including blogs, podcasts, videos, and more, click here.

Today we’re excited to share with you a recent project we’ve been working on. We started a new podcast called the CCEF Blogcast, where CCEF faculty read their own blogs. We hope you enjoy this special episode as Ed Welch reads his blog, “Become a Psalmist.” For more content like this, check out the CCEF Blogcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Music: "Created by Design" by Cody Martin

Alasdair Groves discusses Jesus' anger towards distractions and injustices, focusing on how it reflects his passion for justice and righteousness. The podcast explores Jesus' reaction to temple exploitation, hypocrisy, and the balance between anger and compassion in guiding people towards fellowship and love.

Explore the depth of compassion in Jesus' emotions, leading to action. Reflect on how God, as a good shepherd, has compassion for us. Learn about the upcoming CCEF National Conference on rest. Delve into the challenges of showing compassion and the importance of empathy. Reflect on embodying Jesus's compassion for personal growth and empowerment.

Learn about Jesus' experience of dread before his crucifixion and how it can encourage us in our own experiences. Discover how Jesus can provide strength and support during times of dread and anxiety. Explore how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross brings hope and grace in times of grief.

Explore the challenges of controlling emotions and the impact on relationships. Learn about the purpose of emotions and pouring out our hearts to God. Discover how emotions are shaped and drive us in our spiritual journey. Emulate the emotions of Jesus as a model for our own lives.

Learn how to apply Scripture in difficult times and find comfort and guidance. Explore the idea of God storing our tears and understanding our pain. Discover the significance of gratitude and contentment with God's provision. Find different ways to engage with Scripture and deepen your faith.

Explore the struggles and guilt associated with weak faith, using the story of Peter sinking and Jesus rescuing him as an example. Analyze Jesus walking on water, emphasizing the themes of faith, trust, and the power of Jesus. Discover the strength and weakness of human faith, highlighting God's role as the ultimate source of strength. Learn about the strengthening power of weak faith and how it is part of God's saving grace.

“We can become blind to the goodness of what God is calling us to, the fact that his call to obedience is a call to the path of life, not the path of death. When our drudgery becomes our view of what’s happening here, if we see it as him against us or calling us to something that’s not good for us, we’ve lost some ability to perceive what is true.”   Why do we struggle to do the things God has given us to do? How do we fight laziness or procrastination and move forward into the hard but rewarding task of the work that God has set before us? Listen as Alasdair Groves shares about his own struggles with laziness and how God can grow us in perseverance in our work."Related resources: "Why Bother?" | Blog by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/why-bother/ "Psalm 90 and 'Doing the Best That I Can'" | Blog by Todd Stryd https://www.ccef.org/psalm-90-and-doing-the-best-that-i-can/ More information about the 2023 CCEF National Conference here: https://www.ccef.org/2023