Emotions are such a mysterious gift.  They take us to heights of ecstasy.  They dash us on the rocks of despair.  They can bind us together and tear us apart.  They can move some to noble acts of courage and self-sacrifice, and in others, they are the force behind terrible acts of evil and destruction.

Why did God make us this way?  How are we supposed to manage this wonderful and mystifying gift we call emotions?  In his new book Why Did God Give Us Emotions?, author Reneau Peurifoy takes a detailed look at the many sources of our emotional responses and the roles our emotions play in our thoughts, actions, relationships with others and relationship with God.  Why Did God Give Us Emotions? is a book twenty years in the making, based on Peurifoy's focused study, counseling experiences, and growing maturity in the faith.

"From the very start I've had two goals: I wanted to look at what science has learned about emotions from a biblical perspective, and I wanted to do it in a way that would strengthen the reader's walk with God," Peurifoy states.  "Over the last two decades, I've seen the strengths of science and psychology in helping people and making our lives more comfortable.  I've also become acutely aware of the inability of science and psychology to address the true source of human misery: sin and our separation from God.  I believe that God has helped me write a book that will be useful to many."

Peurifoy, who holds a Master's in counseling, stresses the importance of recognizing how the individual aspects of emotions interconnect.  He focuses on four main aspects of emotions: their subjective nature, their physical side, their mental side, and their spiritual side.  Why Did God Give Us Emotions? addresses topics like:

• Are some emotions "good" and others "bad"?
• The role of medications in treating emotional problems
• How our core beliefs affect our interpretation of events
• How emotions are the true window into our souls
• How to stop hiding from "taboo" emotions
• What keeps us from hearing God
• The role emotions play in becoming the person God wants us to become

There is certainly no shortage of counseling and self-help books lining the shelves of Christian bookstores today.  Why Did God Give Us Emotions? is destined to distinguish itself from the rest.  With simple, straightforward verbiage (no pop psychology terms here), practical steps to follow, and twenty years of wisdom and insight, Peurifoy's book is essential reading for pastors, counselors, and those struggling with emotional issues as well as the general reader who wants to understand this wonderful, yet often mysterious gift and gain skills for managing emotions more effectively.  Also included is a section of discussion questions, making Why Did God Give Us Emotions? an ideal vehicle for small group study.