Genesis 45:1 (NKJV)

“Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone go out from me!’”

Have self-control and know where and when you can openly display your emotions. I agree with the theory of some that emotions should not be bottled in, but even at that, emotions need to be carefully controlled and restrained, so that it is only expressed to the right people, at the right time and in the right way.

As lord of Egypt, Joseph knew it would be inappropriate to cry in front of his subjects and yet he desperately needed to release his emotions to his brethren. He needed to cry openly and express himself openly, without being careful because of the Egyptian subjects. So Joseph sent everyone away, and then he offloaded.

Choose where and when to unload your emotions; lest a legitimate expression is entirely misread and misunderstood, misrepresented and misinterpreted.

“Lord, I will not cage in my feelings. I want the freedom to cry when I have to. However, Lord, give me the self-restraint and inner strength not to do anything that can tarnish Your image or weaken others around, even if I feel overloaded emotionally and desperately need to release myself. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.”