Humility, Faith and Healing

Thoughts on need for humility and faith in emotional healing.

While it is true that it takes courage and stamina to heal emotionally; it is also important to humbly let things go. At times we may hold on in dogged perseverance when we would serve ourselves better by letting go. By humbly accepting our weaknesses and trusting ourselves to God, we can begin to find peace of mind. We do not have to figure it all out. In this state, God is then able to pour His quiet acceptance for our situation into our hearts, together with His abiding peace and comfort. This may not work if the mind is too tired to hang on to reasoning. However, in many cases, there is a small window of reasoning that opens before full blown panic occurs. If a person is strong enough, this should be the place where we stop and take a reality check of where our thoughts and emotions are leading us. However, no matter where we are, we should continue to reach out to God and believe He has a plan for us in life, no matter what the circumstances. Like the old saying says, “Where there is life, there is hope.”

Each person has his or her peculiar mental make-up and capacities, as well as personal history, which will dictate the steps of emotional healing. It would be frustrating to hold up a benchmark of normality to be attained before healing is complete. To have a reason to live, enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and have peace of mind, are common goals to strive for. We cannot control life; things come unexpectedly, plans change, and even the weather can affect our outlook. What we really need is a place to find security when our world is turned upside down.

So often we brace against the internal barrage of negative thoughts about ourselves, that we may find difficulty in letting go. We think we need to be this strong man, wrestling those thoughts into subjection and locking them away in the back of our minds. Contrary to what we think, we may not be able to win this battle alone. Those thoughts cannot be locked away without them affecting us in ways we may not know. Mostly though, those thoughts only succeed in returning, and eventually our minds become too tired to deal with them. This internal fight will take a toll on us, causing us to react undesirably, if we do not reach out for help. Sometimes this may mean being humble enough to share with a friend, asking them for help and prayers.

A companion to humility, is a surrendered heart. This simply means letting go and letting God. Becoming vulnerable, not needing to fight or prove anything.

For some of us, being wrong in a given situation makes us feel incompetent and ashamed. By accepting that to be correct is normal and incorrect is just as normal, can greatly help us to not take it personal. I do not have to stand on a pedestal of correctness! I am pretty much preaching to myself by those thoughts. I must remind myself to be wrong doesn’t mean that I am less of a person, it just means that I was not correct this time; maybe next time I will have the right answers. Living life this way is not like a test to prove one’s manhood, but rather one of accepting I am human. It may help us to disconnect a bit from ourselves; humbly accepting that this is the way God created my mind to think. We need to be truthful with ourselves. After all we are human and everyone makes mistakes, and messes up.

We tend to think if someone did not agree with us then we got it wrong. In truth, they may not be correct either. Truth may also be a little difficult for our minds to process when our emotions are stirred. If we can lay down judgment and step back the truth may reveal itself. Right and wrong will be, no matter what you or I do. The truth will stand. In fact, the truth is exactly what we are looking for with healing. Truth will tell us that we are all created to think slightly differently from each other to make a rounded-out world.

This quote from Abraham Lincoln may take the wind out of the sail of controversy.  “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Years ago, I went through a difficult time, followed by an emotional breakdown. I had encouragement from those around me and was finally able to surrender my inner struggle and get some medication, as well as a little counseling. My healing began in that surrender, humbly admitting that I was incapable of sorting things out and grasping reality. It was a tremendous relief to realize that I was not crazy, and there was a reason for the dark swirling thoughts, and feelings. As I surrendered, the load lifted from my mind. The journey was long, but eventually I was able to drop the meds and become whole again.

Though I did not always feel His presence I had faith, God was beside me helping me along. Unable to do it alone, I had to lean on those around me.

During that time, I had this wonderful lady come into my life and begin our journey through life together. Twenty some years later we have learned to know and love each other much more than we did back then. She has been a tremendous anchor and support for me.

My earlier experience has not been the only time I have had difficult things to deal with in life. However, my earlier experience has given me insight into my personal struggles which has been of great help. Besides God who has been my healer, there have been kind compassionate people in my life when I have needed them.  One of the most helpful things, has been to find my value in God. When I am confident in Him, I feel much less inferior to other people, and able to see myself as valuable.

At times circumstances may come where you feel a lack of approval or appreciation from others. Your mind can begin to imagine all kinds of things people maybe thinking or saying about you. Fear and oppression like a cloud settle over you, and you may find yourself almost breaking under it’s weight. If not for the Grace of God, that fear would swallow you, leaving you broken and helpless. When we turn to God, He gives a quiet calmness through grace, humility, and acceptance. Most often those fears are groundless imaginations which Satan is able to take advantage of in our minds. On the other hand, if what we feel and hear are true, humility is then our key to make things right where needed.

To be who God has created us to be, needs no apology. We can simply be who we are, relaxed in our minds. In fact, we trust our minds, our thoughts into His care. This sounds simple enough, but  not easy to accomplish alone. It takes the power of God to bring that change about in our thoughts. When that happens, it drives the darkness away, replacing it with strength and acceptance. That’s easy for me to say, especially afterwards, but in the battle of the mind it is real!

I recently went through a low time, dealing with fear and unknown. I felt pretty much at the bottom and it seemed as though there was nothing good, I had ever said or done. Darkness and fear like a blanket wanted to overwhelm and cover me. During this time I had no where to turn but to the Lord; just me and Him working this battle out. My mind wanted to slip and all manner of fear filled every nook and cranny.  Over a few days God showed me a way of freedom, and those emotional fears began to subside. All I can say is, “Praise the Lord,” because of the peace and freedom He brought to my heart and soul. Satan attacks our minds with the only thing he really can and that is fear. Fear can drive a mind almost mad, but God’s love drives fear away. 1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

All of us need to feel secure; part of our families, our church brothers and sisters, our community, support group, our friends, and the list could go on. When security is broken, we naturally become fearful. It is amazing how much we anchor our thoughts about ourselves, by the approval of our peers and friends.

You may be wondering by now if all I have is dark negative thoughts. No, I have some experience with them, but the reason for me sharing them is to point us to the one who can help us deal with our mental and emotional conditions. I am not trying to over spiritualize our emotions, because they are natural. However, there is no better way to experience proper emotional health, than to have  God in your life.

By having a humble heart, I no longer have an image to portray, or live up to. I can trust my past present and future to God. I can rest the past with its mistakes, the present with its challenges, and the future with its unknowns, all into God’s hands. I am less concerned what people think of me and more concerned with God’s acceptance. I have no pressure to try to be something or someone I am not. I no longer have to incriminate myself for being stupid, or not having thought of doing something someone else obviously did. In truth, I may find it wrong to think those thoughts of myself, after all I am God’s creation, and He makes no mistakes. There was a time in my life when God brought this verse to me, and I felt I needed to apply it to myself. Matthew 6:15 KJV But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. At that time, I understood that I needed to forgive myself for my past mistakes or He would not be able to work in my life.

Another key ingredient which I have appealed to but not mentioned, is the need to have faith. Faith reaches out to a hope in a power beyond human capability. For a depress person, this may go against everything they can imagine, as they are reaching out for tangible evidence, rather than something they cannot see or feel. However, faith allows us to let go and let God take care of us. Faith taps us into a power beyond ourselves, and trusts in that which we cannot see. I don’t think I can overemphasize the need for faith in emotional healing.

Due to circumstances in my life, I was not prepared to face life and the prospect of marriage. I found this young lady I have already mentioned, very attractive. As our youth group from the church would get together, I began to realize that I looked forward to seeing her and if she happened to not be there, well, I was disappointed. Having no formal training in such matters as marriage, and love, I only knew she was someone I really enjoyed being around. Not only that, but I also felt God was leading us together. In time I asked for her hand in marriage, and thus began our engagement. However, this is when fear  overtook my mind, and my emotions really took a dive for the bottom. I was not emotionally strong enough to deal with the changes about to take place in my life. Satan took advantage of me in this state, trying to destroy and cause havoc. When our emotions become strained, we lose our ability to feel, which is what happened to me. In this state, my thoughts freewheeled, and I was not able to grasp and hold on to them. I wanted nothing more than to know the will of God but could not figure out what was happening to me. My ability to think reasonably was beyond my control.

After some time and emotional healing, there came a day when I told the Lord I would block all the bombardment of thoughts, and believe He would be able to speak loud enough that I could hear Him. You see, I had called off the engagement because of my emotional instability, and I knew God alone was my help. That’s when faith took ahold and the way out began. Faith became my anchor to God.

We could talk a lot more about humility, faith, trust, and hope. Everyone’s journey is different; God may have slightly different tools for you to use. In whatever life throws you, remember God’s storehouse and toolshed are available to you. The Word of God has it all. The Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith, and everything else you may need to fight the battle of the mind. His Word is full of promises, and examples of faith. He has also given kind supportive people, as well as brothers and sisters of faith, to share with, who care about you. Even if you cannot see the light at this very moment, never lose faith that God has good things in store for you.

Ephesians 6:16 KJV Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. See Ephesians 6:10-18

1Peter 5:6-7 KJV 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NET No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Phi 4:6-7 KJV 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.