Love Is Beyond Emotions?
Who are we supposed to love? Humans – young or old, male or female.
Science has shown that humans connect through meaningful conversations, shared experiences, empathy, trust, and acts of kindness. All of these revolve around emotions. So, while Agape Love goes beyond emotions, it does not cancel them out. God gave us emotions, not to ignore them, but to help us connect with Him and those around us. Emotions also inform our decisions but should be aligned with God’s wisdom.
God understands that we are human, created in His image, and full of emotions. Through the Holy Spirit, He gives us the ability to forgive completely, see people beyond their faults, love even those who hurt us, and still walk away when a person’s character conflicts with our values or leads us into sin. God is also a God of peace, and He desires that we live in it abundantly. This means He does not expect us to stay in situations or relationships that rob us of peace.
Your peace should remain intact, except in moments when the Holy Spirit burdens you for lost souls, warns you against temptation, or convicts you of something deeper in your walk with God.
Having empathy does not mean you must remain in a relationship with someone. Empathy is about understanding another person’s feelings, but it does not automatically dictate the future of a relationship. Other factors, like values, compatibility, and personal well-being, also matter.
Even Jesus, our perfect example, displayed emotions. He wept (John 11:35), felt sorrowful (Matthew 26:38), expressed righteous anger (Mark 11:15-17), and showed frustration (Mark 8:12). If emotions did not matter, why would Jesus express them so openly? The key is not to suppress emotions but to manage them in alignment with God’s will.
Love Does Not Mean Keeping Harmful People in Your Life
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts. The Bible advises us to avoid people who are immoral, selfish, greedy, arrogant, heartless, or abusive (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It also warns against associating with false teachers.
Yes, God commands us to love unconditionally, but that does not mean maintaining every relationship at all costs. He understands human nature and how easily we can be influenced, so He has given us boundaries. Loving someone does not mean you must keep them close.
Jesus Himself did not associate with everyone despite being the LORD of all. He called out the Pharisees for their wrongdoings and even warned his disciples to watch out! (Matthew 16:6).
In Acts 15:36-40, Paul and Barnabas disagreed and chose to part ways instead of forcing a relationship. This shows that godly people can forgive and still recognize when separation is necessary. Similarly, Joseph forgave his brothers but did not immediately reconcile with them until he saw true change. Love does not mean blind trust or forced closeness.
How Do We Manage Our Emotions as Christians?
Now, let’s talk about the “perfection” Jesus referred to in Matthew 5:43-48.
Does perfection mean you cannot express your emotions, correct someone, or discipline a subordinate? No. Jesus’ teaching was not about suppressing emotions but about loving beyond human expectations – loving even those who wrong us. True love is seeing people the way God does, and understanding that their actions may be influenced by their background, environment, past experiences, or lack of knowledge. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
That said, even Jesus did not always act “soft.” He flipped tables in the temple (John 2:15-16) and often rebuked people out of love. God Himself corrects us when we go astray because He loves us (Hebrews 12:6). So, expressing emotions – including frustration or discipline – is not ungodly; it is about doing it in the right way.
How Do You Handle Difficult Relationships?
- Pray. Before confronting someone, pray for them.
- If they don’t change, keep praying for them.
- If their actions hurt you deeply, love them from a distance and continue praying.
- If they threaten your spiritual well-being, cut ties completely – but still pray for them.
God sees your heart.
So, yes, your emotions are as real and relevant as God’s love. Perfection in love means loving everyone as God does – quick to forgive, correcting with love, and setting boundaries when necessary. Love is not about ignoring wisdom or tolerating harmful behaviour. It is about aligning our actions with God’s will, which sometimes means walking away while still wishing others well.
And that, my lovelies, is how you live in love while still protecting your peace. ❤️
-Love, ADS.
