When Unwanted Emotions Show Up, So Does the Holy Spirit

As Christian moms, we’re no strangers to emotional overload—grief, anxiety, guilt, overwhelm. But what if those unwanted feelings aren’t signs of failure… but signals that the Holy Spirit is drawing us near?

In this heartfelt episode of Real Moms, Real Faith, Jenna Marie Masters explores the powerful role of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Advocate—especially when emotions show up uninvited. Through biblical truth, personal stories, and practical encouragement, this episode helps moms recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence in everyday moments of motherhood.

You’ll discover:
 🕊️ The true meaning of Parakletos—the name Jesus gave the Holy Spirit
💧 Why emotional breakdowns often come right before spiritual breakthroughs
👩‍👧 How to help your kids navigate big feelings with God’s truth
❤️ What it looks like to invite the Holy Spirit into your grief, anxiety, or stress
🙏 Practical ways to teach your children about the Comforter without watering down Scripture

Whether you’re parenting through tears, praying through exhaustion, or just trying to keep it together, this episode reminds you that you’re not alone—God is by your side and on your side.

✨ Plus: Jenna shares favorite listener responses to the recent Instagram giveaway on how moms help their kids trust God during struggles.

➡️ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more Christian moms discover this faith-filled community of real talk and real hope.

Transcript

Uninvited Feelings and the Comforter

Speaker 1 0:10

This is Jenna Marie Masters with the Real Moms , real Faith Podcast . I am so glad you're here so you can be encouraged to trust God with all the things one day at a time . Hello , welcome to episode 11, . When uninvitedited Feelings Show Up , so Does the Comforter . Sometimes we forget to remember .

Speaker 1 0:28

Before the amazing resurrection of Christ , there was a lot of unwanted emotions that came . There was grief , there was anger , there was confusion , there was anxiety . We have Judas who is so overwhelmed with guilt that he kills himself . We have Peter who is so distraught and angry that they're going to take Jesus away that he cuts off someone's ear . We have Jesus who is experiencing such a high level of anxiety in the garden he is actually sweating blood . Then we have the women at the cross who are mourning and grieving over the death , the death over Jesus who they loved . All this to say ? Usually , when we are faced with an unwanted emotion , it's because great joy and breakthrough is right around the corner . For the sake of this podcast , I'm going to use the word grief , but you could go ahead and throw in any unwanted emotion into this . It would still be relevant to the way the Holy Spirit shows up . So let's dig in .

Emotions: The Unwanted Wedding Guest

Speaker 1 1:23

I used to be a wedding photographer and let me tell you , there is always at least one unwanted guest at the party and the bride always warns me about this guest before they come . Usually it's the crazy uncle , but at one wedding there was an aunt and this bride actually warned me and the bridesmaids to watch out for her and to tell her if she was coming towards her . Well , she did come towards her . It was right before the ceremony , with a big red glass of wine . She went in to hug this poor bride and she dumped her entire glass of red wine down the bride's dress Just a whole glass just red wine down the back of her dress , right before she was supposed to walk down the aisle .

Speaker 1 2:05

Sometimes emotions are like that lady no social awareness and zero consideration for the perfect , beautiful life we're trying to put on in the morning . And when they show up we're asking who invited you anyways ? But let's be honest , it's not their fault . I mean , when we shove emotions down deep into the burrow of our lives , they're going to rear their heads at the most inconvenient times , like when the checker at Trader Joe's asks you if you have bags and you burst into tears because you left them in the car . If an emotion wants your attention , like grief , he's going to get it , and depriving him of attention only makes him run up and pour a glass of red wine down the back of your white dress .

Understanding Parakletos: Holy Spirit as Comforter

Speaker 1 2:51

The good thing is , when emotions are talking to us , the Holy Spirit is talking to us at the same time .

Speaker 1 2:53

Another name for the Holy Spirit is actually comforter . Advocate is the same word in Greek and it's used interchangeably . The Greek word for comforter or advocate is parakletos . Word for comforter or advocate is parakletos , and it has two meanings it has called to one side , and the other meaning is one who pleads another's case , one who pleads another's cause , who helps another by defending or comforting . And this word in Greek it's the name that Jesus gives the Holy Spirit .

Speaker 1 3:21

Three times in scripture John 14 , 16 , john 15 , 26 , and John 16 , seven . It says but truly , I tell you , it is good for you that I am going away . Unless I go away , the advocate will not come to you , but if I go , I will send him to you . John 14 , 26 says this but the comforter , that same word , which is the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name . He shall teach you all things . So what does this mean ? The Bible is telling us that the Holy Spirit is by your side and on your side when you're grieving or feeling any emotion . So let's look at the first meaning here . Perakletos called to one side . This makes total sense when you read Psalm 34 , 18 . It says the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit .

Speaker 1 4:08

What's interesting is this word has the same root as the word parakaleo

The Holy Spirit Begs Us to Come

Speaker 1 4:13

, which is translated often in the Bible as begged . It's the same word used when people cry out to Jesus for healing . Often we think of ourselves crying out to God when we're in pain or confused about something , and I believe that we do and I believe that we should . But I think what we miss sometimes is that the Holy Spirit is the one who is called parakletos . He is the one calling you to his side when you're filling all the things . Listen to this Matthew 14 , 35 through 36 says People brought all their sick to him and parakleo , which means begged , they begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak and all who touched were healed . Mark 4 , 140 says a man with leprosy came to him and begged parakaleo . They begged him on his knees . If you are willing , you can make me clean .

Speaker 1 5:02

If we consider what the root of that word means , that means the Holy Spirit is literally begging us to come to him when we're hurting or when we're confused or feeling any unexpected emotion or unwanted emotion . So often we're calling out to Jesus to come to our side , forgetting he's been calling us to him the whole time . This is amazing . Matthew 11 , 28, . Jesus says come to me all you who are weary and burdened , and I will give you rest . Another thing I want to dig into is the second meaning of this word comforter .

Speaker 1 5:33

One who pleads another's case , one who pleads another's cause , one who helps another by defending or comforting . It's like a lawyer who stands up and he's defending your cause and fighting for you in the middle of an injustice . So when we invite the Holy Spirit into our grief , we're inviting all the power and peace of heaven to defend us and carry us through this . This is powerful . He's also a God that can understand all of the emotions that we have . Listen to Hebrews 4 , 15 through 16 from the message version . Now that we know what we have Jesus , this great high priest with ready access to God . Let's not let it slip through our fingers . We don't have a high priest who is out of touch with our reality . He's been through weakness and testing , experienced it all all but the sin . So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give . Take the mercy , accept the help .

Speaker 1 6:22

If you sense that your kids are feeling an unwanted emotion like grief or anxiety , it might be time to sit down and have a conversation with them , especially if you feel like they're not dealing with that emotion because of grief or any other emotion is crying out to them . We want to teach them . The Holy Spirit is crying out to them too , and that means it's going to be okay , because we can trust that he is on our side and he is by our side , and this is the same for us , of course , as moms . Every time I am sharing on a podcast , whatever is true for my child is true for me . Let's put it that way , because we all know that kids are just another piece of our hearts walking around outside of our body , right ?

Speaker 1 6:57

So my challenge to you

Practical Challenge for Parents

Speaker 1 6:58

this week is two things . Number one share with God any unwanted emotions that you've been dealing with . Number two ask God to show you any unwanted emotions your children might be dealing with that you don't know about . Ask God to open your eyes so that you can see it . Invite the Holy Spirit into these spaces . And number three explain to your kid what the word comforter really means . When God says that the Holy Spirit is the comforter , we do not need to dumb down the Bible for our children . Many times we underestimate how smart they are and how they get it . Every time you explain something a little bit deeper to them , you're giving them tools for life . You don't need to be afraid to tell your kid hey , this is the Greek word for this . This actually means that the Holy Spirit is crying out to you and begging you to come to him

Community Shares and Thank You's

Speaker 1 7:44

. Did you know that the Holy Spirit , when he's comforting you , he's also fighting for you ? These truths are so powerful , oh my goodness . Please share them .

Speaker 1 7:55

I just want to take a second and say thank you to everybody that entered the giveaway . A couple weeks ago , I asked a simple question and had you answer , and we got so many amazing answers , so I hope you do go back on Instagram and look at it . The question was what is one way you helped your child trust God in the middle of a struggle . Some of my favorites are to pray out loud with your kids . Another common theme was to remind your kids of all the good things God has done in the past , which of course I love . I love that Megan shares with her kids that God is a prayer away at any time . I love that .

Speaker 1 8:22

And my friend Lupita won the giveaway and her answer actually was one of my favorite ones . She said this . She said I sit with the girls and turn on gratitude by Brandon Lake . We play the song on repeat and sing and dance until we feel better . I just love that because it was simple and practical and especially an easy way for younger kids to just remember to praise God and to find joy in the moment . And my friend Kelly said that she shares her own stories of trusting God in the midst of trials , which to me resonates so deeply in how I parent . Then my friend Jennifer said she reminds them that doors close for a reason and the time they went through their struggles or sadness is not by accident , but they were chosen to glorify God and their savior and that's an honor and a blessing and I think that's a really beautiful perspective to take on everything . There are so many good ones on there . So please go back to the Instagram posts and read the answers that all these mamas wrote that are so beautiful and so encouraging about one way they help their children trust God in the middle of a struggle . And a big thank you to one of my favorite stores , three Friends Boutique , who provided the giveaway prize . It is the cutest store and it's where I go for all of my summer dresses and a lot of times when I'm speaking I will go there and pick out an outfit to wear . I absolutely love it . Three Friends Boutique in your Belinda .

Speaker 1 9:34

I want to say thank you to everybody who has left a review or rating on the Apple Podcast app . It actually helps other moms to find this podcast faster . So if you have a minute and this podcast has blessed you if you would just take a minute and go give me a rating For those of you who have done that . Thank you so much . Give me a rating For those of you who have done that . Thank you so much . It means more to me than you know . I can't wait to have you next week . Don't forget to follow , save and share and subscribe . You're awesome . Give it up for our mommy . Yeah , we'll be faster . Love it , thank you .