There have been many attempts to understand God and explain who He is. One of the most common ways to do this is to use terminology and imagery that is common to human beings. This makes sense, because human beings are limited by their senses and the world in which they live. There needs to be a measure of caution when making these comparisons. One needs to remember that the comparisons are analogies, not equations.

With this in mind, does God have emotions? There is a common perception that God stands outside of our world and is devoid of any real passion or emotion. The Bible paints a different picture. Exodus 34:6 reads, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Another biblical concept supporting the idea of God having emotions is the fact that humans are created in God’s image. While what God’s image really is can be debated, one thing that we can take away from the concept is that we are a reflection of God, however faint and dim that reflection may be. Since human beings are emotional beings, one can deduct that God is an emotional being. This is not a big stretch.

God’s emotions as not out of control, nor do they contain malice. When God is angry, it is not a selfish anger, but a just one. But he does have genuine emotions. “God is personal and ethical, and both senses call for healthy emotions or passions” (Lewis, EDOT).

In summary, God is a deeply passionate and emotional being, who cares for us and is moved when we are hurt. As Peter wrote, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pe 5:7).