Following Emotions vs. Following Truth: How We Can Overcome Our Emotional Nature

In today’s culture—whether in politics, relationships, or spiritual life—it often feels like people are being driven by emotions more than truth. Emotions dominate conversations, fuel social media storms, and can even dictate how entire groups make decisions. On both the left and the right, we see the pull toward reaction over reflection, slogans over substance, outrage over wisdom.

But this struggle isn’t just political. It’s deeply human. Our hearts, emotions, and desires are powerful—but also unstable. The Bible speaks directly to this reality:

• “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

• “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)

When we follow em otions alone, we can quickly lose our way. But God offers us a better path.

The Pitfall of Following Emotions

• On the left: Emotions often show up as outrage, name-calling, and simplified slogans. Emotional appeals to compassion or justice can sometimes override thoughtful discussion about long-term consequences.

• On the right: Emothions often surface through fear of change, nostalgia for “the good old days,” and reactionary anger. Simple patriotic or cultural phrases can stir hearts but bypass deeper problem-solving.

• Common to both: name-calling, group loyalty, and outrage cycles that prioritize belonging over truth.

  
  

In both cases, emotions are elevated above wisdom. Yet James 1:20 reminds us: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Chart: Left vs. Right vs. Biblical Approach

Left Wing	Right Wing	Biblical Approach
Name-calling and moral outrage	Fear-driven reactions and nostalgia	“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19)
Slogans over substance (“Love is love”)	Slogans over substance (“America First”)	“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Emotional groupthink around compassion	Emotional groupthink around tradition	“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
Outrage cycle fueled by media	Outrage cycle fueled by media	“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

How Do We Overcome This?

Overcoming the pull of emotions is not about suppressing them, nor is it about indulging them. It’s about surrendering them to God and learning to walk by truth rather than impulse.

Here are key steps:

1. Renew the Mind with God’s Word

   Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Truth anchors us when emotions shift.

2. Walk by the Spirit

   Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  The Spirit helps us discern when emotions reflect God’s heart and when they are misleading.

3. Practice Slowness & Discernment

   James 1:19 calls us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. In an instant-reaction culture, this is countercultural wisdom.

4. Seek Wisdom Above Emotion

   Proverbs 4:7 says, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”  Wisdom helps us resist manipulation by emotional soundbites.

5. Cultivate Humility

   Philippians 2:3 teaches us to count others as more significant than ourselves. Humility breaks the cycle of pride-fueled reactions.

6. Develop Emotional Maturity

   Hebrews 5:14 describes maturity as discerning good from evil through practice. Emotions become guides, not masters.

7. Root Identity in Christ

   When identity is tied to politics or tribes, every disagreement feels like a personal attack. But Colossians 3:3 reminds us our life is hidden with Christ in God. That identity is unshakable.

   
   

The Christian Difference

Other traditions warn against following emotions too. Buddhism cautions against craving, Stoicism warns about passions, and Islam teaches against the nafs (lower self). But Christianity offers something unique: rather than suppressing or detaching from emotions, it calls us to surrender them to God. Through the Spirit, He transforms our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26) and gives us a “sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Conclusion

Emotions are real—but they are not reliable guides. Left unchecked, they divide us, control us, and distract us from God’s truth. But when surrendered to Christ, emotions are reshaped into compassion, courage, patience, and wisdom. The solution is not to follow our feelings or deny them, but to let them be led by the Spirit of God.

As Proverbs 3:5–6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”