“The salvation of your soul is not just about where you go when you die. The word salvation means healing or deliverance at the deepest level of who we are in the care of God through the presence of Jesus. Sooner or later, your world will fall apart. What will matter then is the soul you have constructed.”
John Ortberg, Soul Keeping
Sooner or later, your world will fall apart… maybe your world has already fallen apart. Maybe it happened years ago when you faced that unspeakable tragedy that will forever divide your life into before and after. Or maybe you’re experiencing it today, right now, in the midst of this global pandemic that has caused so many to lose financial stability, health, the ability to be with loved ones, school and church communities, or even, as is the case for some of my missionary friends, the option to return to your overseas home.
It’s a hard season for any number of reasons, but I’d like to ask you today, in the midst of it all, how is it with your soul?
That’s not an easy question, because while our soul is the deepest undercurrent of all aspects of our lives–physical, emotional, volitional, spiritual–it’s wellness is not dependent on the condition of any single component.
HOPE AMID HEARTACHE
You can have an accident that paralyzes your body and still be able to say, “I don’t think you could find a happier follower of Jesus than me. The more my paralysis helps me get disentangled from sin, the more joy bubbles up from within. I can’t tell you how many nights I have lain in bed, unable to move, stiff with pain, and have whispered near tears, ‘Oh, Jesus, I’m so happy. So very happy in you!’” (Joni Eareckson Tada)
You can lose your son to pneumonia, your business to a fire, and your four daughters to a ship-wreck and still be able to say, “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” (Horatio G. Spafford)
You can battle depression and disturbed thoughts, feeling oppressed by those around you and forgotten by God, and still be able to say, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (The Psalmist)
So, when I ask you of the health of your soul, I’m not asking about your circumstances, your feelings, or your physical condition. I’m asking if you’re abiding in the only Source of contentment amid loss, life amid death, peace amid crisis, calm amid chaos, and love amid hate.
When your soul is at rest in the shelter of the Father’s hands, it is well.
SIGNS OF AN UNWELL SOUL
We’ve talked before about the destructive nature of sin and those pesky joy-thieves to the soul, but here is a more specific outline of the symptoms that can clue you in to our oft-ignored soul sickness.
- Persistent low-level anxiety
- The urge to hurry from place to place and task to task
- Impatience with other people’s slowness or mistakes
- Insomnia (this one is a red flag for me when coupled with nighttime jaw clenching)
- Constantly negative self-talk
- Unhealthy eating patterns (both excessive consumption and excessive dieting)
- Inability to be hospitable
- Binge-watching movies and shows or spending endless hours playing video games
- Fear of being alone
- Feelings of repulsion or anger toward those who are different from you
- And, of course, negligence of time spent with God
As John Mark Comer so candidly expressed, “If you’re anything like me, when you get overbusy, the things that are truly life giving for your soul are the first to go rather than your first go to–such as a quiet time in the morning, Scripture, prayer, Sabbath, worship on Sunday, a meal with your community, and so on. Because in an ironic catch-22, the things that make for rest actually take a bit of emotional energy and self-discipline. When we get overbusy, we get overtired, and when we get overtired, we don’t have the energy or discipline to do what we need most for our souls.”
– The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
If we’re honest, most of us live in this overbusy, overtired state, don’t we? And if I’m being honest, I’m struggling to write this today because I’ve stayed up too late the past few nights. The more tired I am, the more I crave sugar, brain-numbing entertainment, and lazy solutions that smooth over the surface of my problems rather than dealing with the root issue.
Perhaps for this reason, the keeping of Sabbath is the crux of all the other soul-care practices.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE WEARY SOUL
Truly, the battle for the salvation (in terms of healing and restoration) of our souls rages on, but the beautiful story of following Jesus never ends with bad news or sorrow.
We belong to the One who has overcome the world and its troubles. (John 16:33)
We are part of an unshakable kingdom. (Isaiah 9:7)
Our lives are hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
Nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39)
His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
The salvation of Christ is not only for your soul for eternity, but also for the here and now. (John 10:10)
When we believe these promises and approach each day from this mindset, we will be able to say, with unwavering confidence, that it is well with our souls.
The condition of your soul is directly related to how consistently you fix your gaze on Jesus in every circumstance.
Now, please don’t hear this as an oversimplification of your struggles. You may need to make concrete lifestyle changes, get counseling, join a support group, or find a coach to help with time management skills. However, rearranging your day so that your attention is given more to Jesus is never a bad place to start.
So, my friends, if you find yourself in a season of disruption or sorrow, if you’re exhibiting more of the signs of soul sickness than you care to admit, or if you just sense an invitation from the Father to a deeper life of abiding in Him, then I pray you will find grace to pause from your agenda and place your soul back in God’s hands.
Soul Care Practice:
Begin each day this week with open hands and a simple prayer of trust:
Abba, I belong to you.
My life is in your hands.
Whatever comes today,
It is well with my soul.
End each day with a few moments of reflection:
- When was my gaze fixed on Jesus today?
- When did I let the world steal my attention?
If you intend to do this but are forgetful like me, then I’d suggest setting up some reminders. Try a post-it on your mirror, a notification on your phone, or a note in your Bible placed on top of your pillow.
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