I Am Afraid of What I Am Feeling

Prayer

Dec 20

Quick Summary

Feeling afraid of your emotions can be deeply unsettling, but it does not mean you are losing control or losing faith. Scripture shows many people who felt overwhelmed by what was happening inside them, yet God met them with steadiness and care. When fear rises around your feelings, reach out to others. That includes trusted friends, pastors, and mental health professionals can be a wise and life-giving step.

I Am Afraid of What I’m Feeling

There are moments when emotions arrive with a strength you didn’t expect. A wave of sadness, a surge of anxiety, a heaviness you cannot easily name. Sometimes the intensity itself becomes frightening. You may wonder, Why do I feel this way? What is happening inside me? What if I can’t handle it?

Being afraid of your feelings does not mean you are weak. It means something within you is asking for attention, understanding, and support. Fear around emotions often grows when you feel alone with them—when no one else knows what’s happening in your inner world. But you are not alone, and you are not beyond help.

This fear is not a verdict. It is a signal. And signals can guide you toward steadiness, connection, and clarity.

When Emotions Feel Scary

Feeling afraid of your emotions often happens for reasons that make sense:

The feeling arrives suddenly and with more intensity than you expected.
You have been carrying stress or sadness for a long time without realizing how heavy it became.
You feel out of control, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next.
A painful memory is surfacing, and you don’t yet have words for it.
Your body is reacting to exhaustion, grief, or anxiety in ways you haven’t experienced before.

Fear becomes loudest when you feel like you must face everything on your own.

Your emotions are not enemies. They are signals—telling you that something needs attention and that you deserve care.

Scripture and the Fear of Strong Feelings

Many people in Scripture experienced emotions that frightened them, and God did not turn away from them.

David

David wrote with startling honesty about fear, anxiety, and inner turmoil. “My heart is in anguish within me,” he says in Psalm 55. He names his emotions without shame, trusting that God can hold them.

Elijah

After a moment of great triumph, Elijah fled into the wilderness and felt overwhelmed to the point of despair (1 Kings 19). His emotions frightened him so much that he wanted to give up. God met him with sustenance, presence, and renewed direction.

Jonah

Jonah felt such intense despair that he told God he could not bear his feelings. God did not abandon him; God engaged him.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah often felt consumed by grief and sorrow for his people. His emotions made him feel isolated and conflicted. Yet God continued to speak to him and through him.

Paul

Paul writes that he and his companions were “utterly, unbearably crushed,” to the point that they “despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). Even great faith did not prevent overwhelming emotions.

These stories reveal one truth: being afraid of how you feel does not place you outside God’s care. It places you right where God meets people most tenderly.

Jesus and the Weight of Emotion

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow” (Matthew 26:38). He felt the strain of what he was carrying so deeply that he sweat drops like blood.

Jesus understands emotional overwhelm from the inside. He knows what it feels like for the heart to tremble under the weight of fear or sorrow. When you are afraid of your own emotions, you stand with a Savior who once said, “My soul is overwhelmed.”

You are not alone. Not in this.

I have written Morning Prayers, Prayers for the Day, and Nightly Prayers. Those may be helpful for you to visit often as you seek to put words and actions to your health.

What Fear Around Your Emotions Does Not Mean

It does not mean:

You are losing control.
You are losing your faith.
You are unstable.
You are a burden.
You are failing.
You should hide what you’re feeling.

Fear is not a sign of collapse. It is a sign that your heart is signaling for support.

When Feeling Afraid Becomes a Call to Reach Out

Sometimes the most faithful act is to let someone else know what’s happening inside you.

Reaching out is not weakness. It is courage.

The Bible says, “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). You were not designed to navigate overwhelming emotions alone.

Here are moments when reaching out is especially important:

When the fear feels stronger than your ability to understand it.
When your emotions affect your sleep, appetite, or daily routines.
When sadness or anxiety lingers for weeks.
When you feel disconnected from yourself or others.
When your thoughts or feelings scare you.

Talking with a friend, pastor, or mentor can bring grounding and perspective. But there are also times when reaching out to a mental health professional—a counselor, therapist, or doctor—is one of the most important steps you can take.

Professionals are trained to help you understand what’s happening within you. They offer tools, support, and pathways that you do not have to create on your own.

Seeking help is not a last resort. It is a step toward healing, wisdom, and stability.

What to Say When You Reach Out

You don’t need perfect words. You can begin with something simple:

“I’m scared of how I’m feeling.”
“Something doesn’t feel right inside me.”
“Can we talk?”
“I need help understanding what I’m feeling.”

You can speak these words to:

A trusted friend
A family member
A pastor
A counselor or therapist
Your doctor

Let someone step into this moment with you. You were never meant to carry fear alone.

Steps You Can Take Today

These steps do not fix everything, but they offer stability when emotions feel overwhelming.

1. Name What You’re Feeling

Simply saying, “I am afraid of what I’m feeling,” is a form of grounding and honesty.

2. Slow Your Breathing

Fear often rises when your body moves too fast. Slowing your breath helps your mind slow down too.

3. Read One Psalm of Honesty

Psalms 55, 61, or 142 can help you find words when your own are tangled.

4. Reach Out to One Person You Trust

Connection is one of the strongest antidotes to fear.

5. Contact a Professional If Your Feelings Are Intense or Persistent

There is no shame in asking for help. It is wisdom.

6. Remember That God Is With You

You may feel afraid, but God’s nearness does not shift with your emotions.

A Prayer for This Moment

God, I am afraid of what I’m feeling, and I don’t know how to make sense of it. My emotions feel stronger than my understanding, and I’m not sure where to turn. Meet me in this place. Guide me toward the people who can help me. Give me the courage to speak honestly. Help me breathe again. Walk with me through this moment, and remind me that I am not alone—not in my fear, not in my confusion, not in anything I face. Amen.