A Faith-Based Strategy for Emotional Overwhelm
We’ve all had those moments—your emotions show up like an uninvited guest, and you’ve got zero time, energy, or privacy to deal with them.
Maybe it’s bedtime, and your mind won’t stop racing. Maybe you’re at work or school, and you feel a tidal wave of anxiety or sadness coming on. Or maybe you’re simply maxed out—and one more thing might push you over the edge.
As a professional counselor (and recovering stuffer myself), I want to share a powerful tool that’s helped many of my clients—and me—manage overwhelming emotions without ignoring or suppressing them. It’s called the Container Exercise, and it’s both trauma-informed and rooted in faith.
Why Do We Even Have Emotions?
From a psychological standpoint, emotions are data—signals pointing to something deeper happening in the heart. They’re like road signs alerting us to pay attention.
But from a spiritual perspective, emotions are also gifts from God.
God designed our emotions, but they were impacted by the fall (Adam and Eve in the garden...). Our feelings were never meant to be the boss of us—but they do serve a purpose. Emotions can guide us to what needs tending in our inner world. But when ignored, stuffed, or avoided, they tend to get louder…and messier.
Unchecked emotions can lead to:
- Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach issues
- Relationship strain
- Emotional burnout
- Behaviors we later regret
As believers, our emotions don’t have to rule us—but they do need to be recognized and processed in healthy, God-honoring ways.
The Problem with “Stuffing” Emotions
Many of us (especially those of us raised in certain Christian or high-performance environments) learned to stuff our feelings.
We tell ourselves:
- “It’s not that big of a deal.”
- “I don’t have time for this right now.”
- “Christians shouldn’t feel this way.”
But here’s the truth: stuffed emotions don’t disappear—they go underground. And they often resurface later in bigger, more disruptive ways.
So What Do You Do When Emotions Show Up… at the Worst Time?
Maybe you’re in the middle of something important, and suddenly you feel anxious, irritable, tearful, or overwhelmed. You know you can’t deal with it fully in the moment—but you also don’t want to ignore it.
That’s when we need a God-centered way to hit pause without ignoring the deeper stuff.
Here’s how it works:
- Notice – Take inventory of what you’re feeling emotionally and physically. Am I anxious? Angry? Sad? Do I feel it in my chest? My stomach? My throat?
- Name it – “Name it to tame it.” Call out what you're feeling. “I feel overwhelmed, I feel like running, I feel like crying. I need to feel heard.”
- Set an appointment – Tell yourself: “I will come back to this tonight before bed,” or “after dinner,” or “tomorrow morning in my quiet time.” Make space for future processing.
- Stick with your appointment – When the time comes, honor it. Journal, pray, talk with a counselor or trusted friend, or simply sit with Jesus and ask Him to help you process. (Consider utilizing the Container Exercise to help you manage big emotions. Check out the podcast episode on this post for how-to!!)
Containing vs. Stuffing
Here’s the key: Containing emotions is not the same as ignoring or denying them.
- Stuffing = Pretending it doesn’t exist
- Containing = Acknowledging the emotion and putting it on hold until you can process it
Why This Matters Spiritually
Scripture tells us that we are to be controlled not by our feelings, but by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Emotions make terrible leaders—but they’re excellent messengers.
Feelings are real, but they’re not always true. They’re not our identity. And they’re not our guide—Jesus is.
We can respond to our emotions with wisdom, self-control, and faith.
A Gentle Challenge for You
If racing thoughts are stealing your peace—especially at night—try the Container Exercise today. Then again at bedtime. And again tomorrow, if you need it.
You can come back to this post and listen to this podcast episode anytime you need help walking through it.
You don’t have to be ruled by your emotions. You can learn to contain, process, and heal—one step at a time, with Jesus.