There’s a common misconception among Christian girls that in order to be pleasing to God, they must bury our feelings and remain in a constant state of happiness. But this is a dangerous way to approach our relationship with the Father that can leave us feeling numb. 

There is a difference between happiness and gratitude, but our culture regularly blurs the line. Does your daughter recognize she can be grateful for a loving God, but still feel disappointed when things don’t go “according to plan”? Ignoring feelings of hurt in the pursuit of happiness results in one thing—resentment.  

God created each of us with an incredible range of emotions. Work with your girl, whether she’s a toddler or a teen, to be able to recognize her emotions, call them out, work through them, and keep her grateful heart fixed on Jesus.  

Listen to the Raising Godly Girls Minute with Patti Garibay: