How to Deal with How You Feel: Managing the Emotions That Make Life Unmanageable

by James Merritt

“Dr. Merritt brings the truth of God’s Word and the wisdom of experience to that part of our humanity that moves us—the emotions.”
—Karen Swallow Prior, author of  On Reading Finding the Good Life through Great Books

In today’s climate of turmoil and uncertainty, threatening and incapacitating feelings run rampant. Yet the God who created your emotions has also given you everything you need to navigate them. The Bible paints relatable and resonant portraits of women and men struggling with grief, anger, guilt, and despair—and provides divine wisdom for transforming your emotional trials into spiritual triumphs.
 
When you study God’s Word carefully, you’ll discover it illuminates not just your faith, but also your feelings. In How to Deal with How You Feel , Dr. James Merritt will help you understand and apply the Bible’s often overlooked practical guidance for handling difficult emotions, including depression, jealousy, dissatisfaction, anxiety, rage, and loneliness.
 
How to Deal with How You Feel is a powerful roadmap to emotional health that will provide you with simple strategies and effective tools to process even your most chaotic emotions in a spiritually beneficial way. As you read, you’ll discover how a deep-rooted faith will empower you to experience the richness of contentment, joy, and peace that transcends understanding.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2022

About the author

James Merritt (PhD) is a pastor, author, and host of the Touching Lives television program, seen nationwide and in 122 countries. Previously, he served as a two-term president of America’s largest Christian denomination. As a national voice on faith and leadership, Merritt has been interviewed by outlets including Time, Fox News, MSNBC, and 60 Minutes. He resides with his family outside Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good reminders in here but kind of dragged on for me. Some practical tips on dealing with emotions which is nice!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book sounded like a sermon and was basic ideas which is a good reminder. It was worth listening to for a reminder but nothing new really.

[mikai ✿]

this book was lent to me by my teacher. :) self-help books aren’t really my cup of tea but i did find the anecdotes entertaining and there were pieces of advice that really spoke to me. i especially like how the author would break down each ‘emotion’ chapter into steps because it made the advice more approachable and applicable to real life. at times the data or stories linked to each chapter felt random though, almost entirely unrelated. thus, the book felt fragmented. still, i appreciate the effort in introducing each chapter with a novel story or tidbit, it definitely hooked me! surprisingly i will take some of the advice and reflect on my own life… even as someone who is spiritual at best these days.

grateful to have read this :) first read of the year!

[Yanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very religious and biblical, but it's a nice pick-me-up read.

[Kelsey Geurink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biblical perspective on handling life’s emotions. A great reminder that my life is not my own, but it is to honor and glorify Jesus, and that I am living with the hope of eternal life!

[Gracie Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I would honestly read it again. The author did a wonderful job of including biblical scripture throughout while also touching on every emotion we face. He explained everything so well, and I definitely learned a thing or two. I also loved how the author included real stories and real life examples of others. One of my favorite examples he used, was when a soldier left his girlfriend back home. She basically wrote him a dear John letter saying she had found someone new and they were getting engaged. She had the audacity to ask for him to mail her favorite picture back to her because she wanted to use it in her engagement announcement in the county newspaper. To my surprise, the soldier talked amongst the other soldiers, and he collected pictures of their girlfriends and wife’s to send back to her. In the letter he wrote back to her, he basically said “Sure, but find your picture out of these because for the life of me I can’t remember you.” I actually laughed out loud! This book gave me a new prescriptive on life as a Christian. 10/10 would recommend to any student in high school, college, or even an adult who needs a good refresher!