Have you ever said something you knew you'd regret? Ever done something and immediately felt sick to your stomach? Made a wrong decision?

It's easy to be led by emotion.

It's easy to say the first word that pops into our minds. It's easy to express anger and lash out on those closest to us. It's easy use our emotions as an excuse to justify our actions.

Emotions impact our decisions, our relationships, and influence nearly every facet of our lives. But how do you process or manage something with this much power over your life?

So often we treat our emotions as fact, rather than proceeding with caution. In reality, there's a fine balance when it comes to managing emotion. Emotions should not be ignored, but they should not be upheld as a truth standard, either.

I love the way Jon Bloom summarizes the purpose of emotions. He states in his article "Your Emotions Are a Gauge, Not a Guide" that emotions are "indicative," not "imperative."

This is a sobering thought.

How often do we let our emotions lead us down a path so far we end up lost and confused?

Yet, emotions can't be flipped on and off like a switch. So, what do we do about it?

"Emotions aren't imperatives; they're not your boss. They're indicatives; they're reports."

It's important to understand the purpose of emotion before crediting or discrediting what we feel.

David Marvin with The Porch reinforces the idea that emotions serve as a gauge, rather than a guide. He states in his talk "In Your Feelings" that emotions do not always reveal truth, but they do reveal what is true about you.

Emotions can be a good indicator of what you're thinking, but they should not be the only method by which you make your decisions.

When handling emotions, especially your own, it is important to process where the feelings are coming from and why.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Please don't misunderstand. Emotions are not inherently evil. They were created by the all-purposeful God, therefore, they have a purpose.

This is probably a melting pot of ideas, but the truth is simple. God created you, and He created you with emotions. Emotions serve a purpose in delivering messages. For example, a few weeks ago I sat down with my pastor, and we were simply talking. Talking about life and all that was going on. All of a sudden, I broke down in tears. I had no idea why.

After apologizing repeatedly for my embarrassing breakdown, my pastor told me to breathe. He said it's ok to cry, and it's ok to express emotion. He said that emotions can be signals to alert us of things we did not even know we were worried, stressed, or anxious about.

This has changed the way I view emotions, and therefore, the way I process emotions. Every time I feel an overwhelming slew of emotions, I try to take a step back. I try to evaluate where my emotions are coming from and why I might be feeling them. In addition to this, I pray through my emotions. God already understands what I'm feeling and why better than I ever could. So, I seek clarity from Him.

Emotions serve as a gauge, and this gauge can be used to point us back to Christ.

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:13)