When I began reading God’s word looking specifically for emotions, I didn’t get very far before finding something really interesting. 

What do you think is the first reference to some emotion in scripture?

I would argue He began with “good.” 

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good.” Genesis 1:3-4

A Versatile Word

What is “good”?

Good is quite a versatile word. 

Merriam-Webster gives many definitions and synonyms: 

• Of favorable character or tendency

• Suitable, fit

• Profitable, advantageous 

• Agreeable, pleasant

• Beneficial, wholesome

• Amusing, clever 

• Well-founded, cogent

• Adequate, satisfactory

• Virtuous, right, commendable

• Competent, skillful

Reflecting on this further, we can consider the word good to be a statement of evaluation: to consider or conclude or opine that something is positive, beneficial, or desirable in some way. 

This could be positive in a practical sense, or functional sense, or it could be positive in a moral sense, or in an aesthetic sense or emotional sense. 

Of course, in a given moment, the word good could be used to declare something positive and desirable in multiple or even all of these ways. 

God Values Emotional Goodness 

How do we think it was used in Genesis when evaluating God’s creation?

I think it was an all encompassing good: functionally, practically good, beneficial, useful, morally good and right … 

… and also aesthetically good, pleasing, desirable, enjoyable, emotionally good. 

So then maybe this is the very first appearance of emotion in God’s word.

Right at the beginning. 

And it's a good emotion (no pun intended). 

Goodness, including emotional goodness - pleasure, positive and enjoyable emotions - are important to God. 

So important, in fact, that He repeats this declaration of goodness 7 times in the very first chapter of His instruction manual for life!

Topping it off with the final declaration of all of His creation (including mankind in His image) as “very good” (Genesis 1:31)

Goodness is important.

Not just practically.

Not just morally.

But emotional goodness is also important. 

At The Same Time, Our Current Reality Includes … 

Of course we know how the story unfolds. 

Evil exists. The fall happened. Suffering is real. 

There is much in life today that is not good. 

And while we do need to address what is not good, I think God gives us a model here of first acknowledging what is good. 

I would suggest, based on other passages, that we go even further to celebrate what is good.

Don’t just acknowledge, but celebrate, savor, rejoice, and give thanks for what is good.

It’s very easy to get overwhelmed and preoccupied by things in life that are not good.

I believe it’s part of our design - being in the image of God - to notice and address things that are not good.

(God noticed/declared it was not good for man to be alone, so He did something about it.)

Our brain is a problem-solving machine. It likes to solve problems. 

God designed it to be good at solving problems. 

However, if all of our attention and energy is constantly focused on problems and things that are not good, then our emotions, our mental health, and our brain health will suffer. 

Not good.

We Need to Pursue Balance

As a psychologist and neuropsychologist, over the years, I’ve come to find that mental health and brain health require a balance between investing time and energy into addressing problems around us on one hand, and investing time and energy into celebrating and savoring good things around us on the other.

What are good things around you right now?

Would it benefit you to take a little more time to give thanks, celebrate and savor those good things?

Thanks be to God for His goodness,

Dr. Matt