What do emotions have to do with nutrition? Well, the body cannot be separated into physical, mental, and emotional segments. These aspects of self are interwoven, and they interact constantly. Trapped emotions affect our nervous system, which controls every part of the body, including digestion and how we use the nutrients we take in.
As we go through life we collect negative emotions that may not be fully processed and released. In fact, because certain parts of the brain hold certain emotions and are connected to specific organs, there are emotional themes for each organ. Here are some examples:
- Anger, frustration, and regret tend to settle in the liver and gallbladder.
- Fear affects the kidneys and bladder.
- The lungs hold grief.
Most stuck emotions fall into one of 4 categories: believing an untruth, lack of faith, unforgiveness, or sin. God has given us the power to release these through prayer and scripture.
Untruths
Have you believed a lie? First, acknowledge the falsehood you have believed. Then replace it with truth. Often this can be done by quoting scripture. For example, if the untruth is low self-worth, remember who you are in Christ. “I am crucified in Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ lives in me.” Gal. 2:20. This verse tells us that the Christian is emptied of himself and filled with the spirit of Jesus, whose worth is limitless. When God sees us, He views us through the blood of Christ. He loves us so much he sent His Son to die to save us, not only the whole world, but also you as an individual. Sit with this thought for a minute and pray that God’s truth will fill you and drive out all lies.
Unforgiveness
Jesus repeatedly returned to the idea of forgiveness. And New Testament consequences for not forgiving are pretty intense. People are imperfect, and offenses will happen. Thankfully, we don’t have to feel forgiveness. God has designed us such that forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a choice. Make the choice to forgive, and the feeling will eventually come.
- Try a statement something like this: “I choose as a conscious act of my will to forgive [someone, even yourself, even God] for [the specific thing or things they did].”
- Ask God to forgive you for holding bitterness in your heart, to help you release and forgive them, and to bless the person.
- Whenever bitterness springs up, pray for your “enemies” as Jesus instructed. Pray that they will have health, joy, and success. And choose to feel towards them the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience.
Lack of Faith
Many negative emotions are anxious thoughts, worry, and fear. Each of these is a lack of faith that God will provide for us. This can be especially hard when we feel God has not provided in the way we expected. But God loves us! There are many verses that reveal God’s sovereign power and perfect provision. We may need to redefine our idea of God’s responsibilities.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Sin
Sometimes the emotions we find will be sin, and need to be confessed. This includes unforgiveness and lack of faith. And as hard as it may be to hear, even some aspects of grieving can be a lack of faith or of surrender to God’s sovereignty. Confess your sin to God and enter into His goodness, mercy, forgiveness, love, and joy.
- 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Peace
If we are to experience freedom from trapped emotions, we need to acknowledge the emotional and spiritual connections to physical health, remembering we house an eternal spirit in our body.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 – We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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