3 Questions to Ask Before Using Emotional Energy
Insights from The Weekly REBOOT
By: Evan Owens
Everywhere Jesus went, crowds followed. People were drawn to Him—seeking healing, hanging on to His every word, and witnessing miracles that defied logic. He fed thousands with just a few fish and loaves of bread. The streets overflowed with shouts of "Hosanna!" as people laid down palm branches to welcome their King.
But the same crowd that once adored Him turned against Him. Just days after celebrating Him, they were shouting, "Crucify Him!" What happened? How did their emotions shift so drastically?
Mob mentality took over. And just like in Jesus' time, it still happens today. We live in an era of emotional contagion—where outrage spreads like wildfire and where social media, news cycles, and peer pressure influence what we think, feel, and do. If we’re not careful, we can easily be swept up in emotions that aren’t our own, spending valuable emotional energy on battles we weren’t meant to fight.
For those of us healing from trauma or dealing with mental health challenges, this is even more critical. We don’t have an endless well of emotional energy. We need to be wise about where we invest it.
So how do we do that? Before engaging, we can ask ourselves three key questions:
1. Is this worth it?
Have you ever scrolled through your newsfeed, seen a headline, and immediately felt a rush of outrage? Before you know it, you're worked up, replaying arguments in your head, and feeling emotionally drained. It happens to all of us.
Our emotions aren’t bad—God designed them to help us respond to the world around us. But we have to ask ourselves: Is this a battle I have the capacity to fight?
If God is calling you to take action, He will provide the strength to do so. But too often, we dive into emotional battles without first checking if we have the energy to sustain them. The enemy would love for us to waste our time on distractions, keeping us too exhausted to fight the battles that truly matter.
We must learn the difference between meaningful engagement and being consumed by the energy of the crowd. If we say yes to every emotional pull, we risk losing focus on the bigger battles we’re called to fight. We need discernment to know when to step in and when to let go.
Practical Step: Picture a bucket and a colander. Are you catching and holding onto every piece of information like a bucket, feeling overwhelmed? Or are you allowing unnecessary emotional weight to filter through like a colander? Be intentional about what you hold onto.
2. What can I do about it?
When we’re constantly consuming news and opinions, we can feel informed but helpless. Studies show that excessive news consumption can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and even PTSD-like symptoms. The more problems we see, the more overwhelmed we feel—especially when there’s little we can do to change the situation.
But God doesn’t call us to drown in information; He calls us to action.
So when faced with an emotionally charged issue, ask yourself: What can I actually do about this?
Sometimes, the answer is prayer. That’s not a passive response—it’s our first line of defense. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s and gives us clarity. Other times, action is required: donating, volunteering, speaking up, or advocating for change.
If we realize there’s nothing we can do, it may be a sign that we need to release it and move on. We don’t have to carry the weight of every issue we see.
Practical Step: Before reacting emotionally, pause and ask: “Lord, what would You have me do?” If there’s an action step, take it. If not, trust Him to handle it.
3. Am I thinking for myself?
Mob mentality makes it easy to get swept up in cultural wars, online outrage, and trending opinions. When everyone around us seems to think or feel a certain way, we may assume we should, too.
But God calls us to be set apart, not blindly follow the crowd.
The more we engage in emotional battles that aren’t ours, the more exhausted we become. We need to recognize when we’re just going along with the crowd versus when we’re being led by the Holy Spirit.
Instead of reacting impulsively, take a step back. Are you engaging in this because you truly believe in it? Or because the crowd is pushing you into it?
Practical Step: Pay attention to moments when your emotions run high and the pressure to conform is strong. Ask yourself: Is this really my battle? Or am I being influenced by the crowd? Let the Spirit—not social pressure—be your guide.
Choosing Impact Over Exhaustion
We all want our lives to matter. We want to make an impact. But to do that, we must be wise about where we invest our emotional energy.
When emotions run high, and the crowd starts calling, take a deep breath and ask:
- Is this worth it?
- What can I do about it?
- Am I thinking for myself?
By doing this, we can resist the crowd trap and ensure that our emotional energy is spent on what truly matters. Instead of reacting, we can respond. Instead of burning out, we can make a lasting impact.
And that’s the kind of life worth living.
