Protecting Your Heart From the Emotions of Others

Do you ever feel like you are taking on more than you can handle when people around you are experiencing heavy emotions? I used to walk around with my heart on my sleeve as I took on every single emotion I encountered! God tenderly started to show me that it's not His will for me to carry it all. He actually wants to take that burden from me! Let me share with you today friends how you can begin to realize what triggers you emotionally, as well as finding peace to allow God to handle the emotions you encounter. 

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Are there people that drain you and people that fill you up?
2. When you are drained from a particular person, what was it that drained you?
3. When you visit a friend who is overwhelmed, or sad, or heartbroken, do you leave feeling the same way?
4. What disrupts your emotional self the most?
5. Do you feel things deeply in art, movies, or songs?

 

Verses mentioned:

Galatians 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”

 

Matthew 11:28-30

 

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

Psalm 91:1-16  

 

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler."

 

Prayer of Protection:

 

Precious Father,

 

I pray that as I go into this conversation you would put a fortress around my heart.

 

Protect my emotions and stop me from going too deep into the emotions of others. Help me to remember that their story is not my story, and that you are carrying their burden, not me. Lord, I give it to you.

 

Help me to remember that whatever they are feeling, I don’t have to take that on. Help me to separate my emotions from theirs. Protect my heart. Remind me I am secure in you. I don’t have to ride this emotional wave.

 

You have promised me that if I walk with you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light.

 

Give me the eyes of Jesus to see them with compassion, but a heart of strength to not take their emotions on myself.

 

I give it all to you, what they are feeling. Help me to be a good friend to them and see them like you see them.

 

Amen.