Pastor Kyle Mercer discussed the three options that people typically employ to cope with their negative emotions.
Pastor Kyle Mercer
The lead pastor of Two Cities Church, Kyle Mercer, talked about dealing with negative emotions. He used Habakkuk 1:2 (ESV) as his bible reference, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?”
In this passage, Habakkuk lamented to God, defining lamentation as a prayer in pain that leads people to trust in God. The verse mentioned the word “cry” twice. In the Hebrew context, the first cry constituted a general call for help, while the second cry indicated a scream.
Moreover, he noted that people, particularly Americans, often struggle to cope with negative emotions. Religious individuals, in particular, may find it challenging to express emotions like screaming, crying, and yelling at God, as they strive to appear as though they have everything together. When faced with distressing situations, individuals commonly choose from these three options: suppress, express, and confess.
Two Cities Church. (Screenshot). (2024). How to Wrestle with God, Retrieved March 12, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCC2G8tDcyA
Dealing With Negative Emotions
First, individuals often tend to suppress their negative emotions. Personally, he would not recommend that his congregation follow this approach. He then referenced Sigmund Freud, a prominent psychoanalyst, highlighting Freud’s belief that most mental illnesses were linked to suppression, as revealed in his studies. Following this, he cautioned the people, saying, “You do not want to start suppressing things.”
Second, people tend to express their negative emotions. The drawback is that others may struggle to handle someone’s anger or emotional outburst. Lastly, he discussed the best course of action for Christians instead of suppressing or expressing their feelings.
“You can confess it to God. God can be your lightning rod. He can handle it,” he highlighted.
Watch the full sermon here.
Reference | Two Cities Church
Header Image: Two Cities Church. (Screenshot). (2024). How to Wrestle with God, Retrieved March 12, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCC2G8tDcyA