‘Connect You To [God]: Candace Cameron Bure, Jennie Allen On Embracing Emotions
By Movieguide® Contributor
Candace Cameron Bure and author Jennie Allen are reminding us that emotions are an important part of our relationship with God.
“I think one of the real, hardest parts about sharing…is just because that is such an important part of emotions. They are God-given, they are built,” Allen said during a recent episode of “The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast.” “The reason emotions are so important is because they connect you to people. They connect you to Him.”
The pair talked about how many people feel uncomfortable sharing emotions, whether they’re happy or sad ones, because they can feel messy or overwhelming. They also talked about who they go to when they feel emotional and need to vent.
“I try to go to God before I go to anybody else…’I’m going to run to you first, God’ before I share with other people,” Bure shared.
Allen replied, “I think there’s a lot of people listening that would say, ‘I don’t do that. I don’t go to God first because I feel like He’s judging my emotion or I feel like He’s not safe’…I’m someone who just feels really safe with God.”
She explained that, like David’s conversations with God in the Psalms, she isn’t afraid to “let Him have it.”
“If we really view God as a relational God and Him wanting a relationship with us, those are the best relationships,” Allen concluded.
Allen explores this topic further in her latest book, “Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel And Knowing What To Do About It.”
“Feelings aren’t meant to be fixed. Feelings are meant to be felt,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “God designed all of your emotions as gifts to help us navigate a wild world and to connect us with Him and each other. I know… we’ve often acted out of them in unhealthy ways and so we’ve demonized them and not known what to do with them. So let’s find a new way.”
In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Allen explained how she integrated her faith into her study of emotions.
“I am coming at this from a Christian worldview, but this is a book for all humans,” she said. “If you don’t know Jesus, I hope you still like this book. I think of myself as just following Jesus, who has blessed me, and in following Jesus I want to love people whoever and wherever they are.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Allen’s conversation on emotions with Sadie Robertson Huff:
Author Jennie Allen discussed the power of emotions, why they are a gift from God and how they contribute to our healing.
One of the most powerful ways the Bible shows emotions is in Jesus’ interactions with the disciples and those he healed. While there were countless moments when Jesus could have gotten angry or frustrated with those around Him, He instead allowed them to express their emotions with Him before He would move.
“Over and over again, I mean, He would be there for people in their anger, He would let the disciples try to figure out where they were sitting next to Him, He would let them be completely freaked out on the boat while He was sitting there and had complete control over the waves. You see Him meeting the needs of the woman at the well and moving into her emotional life. You see Him not being impatient with Martha when she’s furious at Him for not being there when Lazarus died… and He’s just patient, you know. He’s just patient,” Allen said.
“We don’t serve a God who is not compassionate and if any part of your brain right now is feeling on the brink of just falling into a pit of despair, I would say you have a God that will be there in that pit with you,” Allen said. “And I pray that you have people that will be there in that pit with you but that pit is not the worst thing.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
