The Healer of Our Souls |

Healer of Our Souls: Our Sovereign God

20. March 2013 · 10 comments · Categories: Anxiety, fear, God's still working on me, Spiritual Growth · Tags: The Healer of Our Souls

This is another post in the series The Healer of Our Souls. This series is intended to show how God’s word is the source of healing for all wounds in our soul. To read the other posts in this series, click here.

I sit in the doctor’s office, feeling a sense of deja vu. It was four years ago that my oldest son had sinus surgery. Now I’m here again with my youngest, hearing the news all over again.

As the surgeon rattles off a list of four procedures my youngest son needs, my stomach tightens. Tears burn my eyes. I feel a panic rise up. Not again. Not my baby.

But because I’ve been down this road before, I know where it leads: fear, anxiety, worry, despair. Not this time.

No, this time, I cling to this truth: God is sovereign.

When life’s circumstances threaten to undo me, I have to rest in the sovereignty of God. This is where the rubber meets the road-do I really believe God is in control of all things? If I do, then He is most certainly in control of my son’s health. This did not hit him by surprise. He is not panicked. He’s not wondering what’s wrong and scratching His head about what to do.

In fact, God has allowed this situation for a reason and it’s in His perfect plan that I place my trust. I know that He loves me and my son. Because He promises that all things work together for our ultimate good, I know that good is what will come of it. He knows how much I love my son. He even knows what it’s like to see His own Son suffer.

He is in this and He’s got this.

God’s word is the source of healing for the wounds in my soul. It reminds me that the same God who formed the sun, moon, and stars cares about me. It reminds me that the same God who uses the earth as a footstool loved me before the earth existed. It’s this God who promises to never leave me or forsake me.

And it’s there, in His word, that I find the comfort I need today:

“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!” Proverbs 30:4

“Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” Isaiah 40:14

“He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth- the LORD God Almighty is his name.” Amos 4:13

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

“The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” Psalm 135:6

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:8

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Are you resting in His sovereign love today?

The Healer of Our Souls: For the Days We Forget

05. February 2013 · 9 comments · Categories: Spiritual Growth · Tags: The Healer of Our Souls

Last year, I started a little series called “The Healer of Our Souls.” My purpose in this series was to show how God’s word is the source of our healing. I didn’t plan on extending the series past a few posts but it looks like I have:) To read the other post in this series, click here.

Ever since I had children, I’ve become quite forgetful. I walk into a room and can’t remember why I did so. I put the milk on the shelf in the pantry where the cereal belongs. I go to the grocery store to buy juice and leave with a shopping cart full of everything but the juice. My husband swears he told me that he had to work late but I don’t remember ever having the conversation.

Sometimes being forgetful can be dangerous. Patient’s with Alzheimer’s wander away from home and are at risk of being hurt or taken advantage of. Forgetting to turn off the stove or the sink in the bathroom can have serious consequences. Failing to remember to lock the front door can be an invitation to thieves.

And forgetting to pick up your kids from school can be downright embarrassing.

But one of the most important things to forget is who you are. I don’t mean your name or where you live, but who you are in Christ. Forgetting our heritage, inheritance, and place in God’s Kingdom can make us wander the world, searching for something we already have. Failing to remember what Christ has already done for us can make us think we have to work hard to do something that has already been done. Wandering away from our home and source for sustenance can bring us to a desert place-dehydrated, starving for peace and the only water that satisfies.

God’s word reminds us who we are and the more we saturate our hearts with the truths of the gospel, the less forgetful we become.

For days when we forget who we are

The Bible tells us that those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior have these promises:

1. Because of Christ’s death in our place, we have been reconciled to God and have complete and full access to our Father: Romans 4:7-8, 5:6-10, 8:1, Ephesians 1:7-8, Hebrews 4:16

2. Because of Christ, we have been made perfect. God sees us as holy: Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9

3. God loves us and has adopted us as his children: Romans 8:15, Galatians 3:26, 4:5-7, Ephesians 3:14-19, 1 Peter 3:18, and 1 John 3:2

4. We share an inheritance with Christ: Galatians 3:29, 4:7, Titus 3:7, 1 Peter 1:4

5. We are new creations: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20

6. Nothing can separate us from God’s love: Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 1:4, 2:1-5

If you are as forgetful as I am, join me in resting in these promises found in God’s word, the very source of healing for all the wounds in our souls.

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The Healer of Our Souls: No More Shame

13. November 2012 · 10 comments · Categories: God's still working on me, Spiritual Growth · Tags: The Healer of Our Souls

Have you ever had days where nothing goes right? Maybe days when no matter how hard you try, you get everything wrong? How about those days when you wished you had just stayed in bed?

Some days I mess up so much that I hesitate to face God. I’m covered in shame and embarrassed by my own sinfulness. And so I hide, neglect prayer, and leave my Bible on the shelf.

There are also times when shadows from the past pursue me in the present. A word, an incident, a flash of memory will bring something from the back of my mind to the forefront. The same feelings of shame and unworthiness will overtake me as though no time had passed. My actions and sins from the past will taunt me, telling me that I have not changed, and that I am still unworthy.

Does your life, whether in the past or the present ever feel too messed up for God to love you? And have you ever thought that maybe everyone else has this Christianity thing figured out and have left you behind?

This mini series, The Healer of Our Souls, is meant to draw us to the Source-God and His Word.

When shame and unworthiness haunt us, when the past holds us hostage, and when our messes in the present tell us we can’t be in God’s presence, remember that Scripture tells us otherwise. For those who believe in Christ, this is our anchor of truth:

1. When Christ died for us, He died for all our sin-past, present, and future. (Psalm 103:12, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 4:10, Romans 4-5,8, Colossians 2)

2. God looks at us and sees the righteousness of Christ. The perfect life He lived, has become ours. (Galatians 2:20, Romans 5:15,8,Colossians 1:21-22, Colossians 2)

3. God loves us just as much as He loves the Son. (John 17:23)

4. Nothing can separate us from Him. He will never leave us or forsake us. (Romans 8:38, Deuteronomy 31:8)

5. We have been adopted. We are permanently part of God’s family. Jesus is not ashamed to call us part of His famiy. (Hebrews 2:2-3, Romans 8:15-17)

These are the truths we need to return to time and time again. Every time we doubt, every time we feel unworthy of love, every time shame rises up in our heart, we need to remember that we are loved more than we could ever imagine or understand. It was that love that took on flesh, became sin, and died so that we could be restored as children of God.

Because the cure for shame and doubt is remembering God’s great love for us.

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The Healer of Our Souls: The Names of God

06. November 2012 · 13 comments · Categories: Anxiety, fear, Spiritual Growth · Tags: The Healer of Our Souls

This post is the second is a series of posts on finding hope and healing through the Word of God.

Lost, frightened, and alone, she wanders far from home. An uncertain future before her, she wonders what will happen to her. Will she die out here? Does anyone even care? Blinded by tears, she falls to the ground and sobs. And then she hears a voice:

“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” Genesis 16:7-11

God saw Hagar crying in the wilderness. He saw how her mistress Sarai had hurt her. He saw deep into her wounded heart and had compassion. In response to God’s kindness, Hagar gives God a name, El Roi. “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (vs.13)

Did you know that there are more than 200 names for God in the Bible? If you include titles and nicknames, there are hundreds more. Our God is so immense, complex, and amazing, it takes so many names to describe Him. It is these names which reveal to us aspects of His love, character, wisdom, and power.

My own heart has been filled with worry and fear many times. I’ve felt alone and uncertain about the future. Many time anxiety has taken over my heart, paralyzing me. I too have run. I too have hidden from all that frightens me. But no matter where I go, God is always there. He sees, He knows, and He cares about all the burdens on my heart. He sees the weight on my shoulders and the way worry holds me hostage.

Learning the names of God revealed to us in Scripture can help us in times of fear, worry, and uncertainty. Knowing not only the names, but their meanings reveals to us just how good, strong, beautiful, and amazing our God is. The more we know about Him, the greater we trust Him. Trust leads us out and away from fear, worry, and anxiety and into His arms of peace.

“And those who know your name put their trust in you.” Psalm 9:10

Below are just a few of God’s names and corresponding passages to read:

1. El Shaddai: God Almighty (Genesis 17)

This name tells us that God is all-powerful. Nothing is too hard for Him. He has proven this over and over in Scripture and in our lives. He has conquered sin and defeated our enemy. He has freed us from slavery and rescued us from shame. No matter how big the problem in our life, He is bigger still.

2. El Roi: The God who sees (Genesis 16)

This name tells us that God sees everything. He is not a distant God, watching things from afar. He sees our hurt and pain, our worries and fears. He not only sees, but He meets us where we are, enters into our pain and rescues us.

3. Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will provide (Genesis 22, Matthew 6)

God not only sees everything that is happening in our lives, He knows just what we need. This name reminds us that God is our provider and sustainer. The name Jehovah-Jireh comes from the story of Abraham and Isaac where God provided a ram in the thicket. This event pointed to the day when God would provide His very own Son as a substitution, a payment for our sins. If He would provide His Son for us, won’t He also provide for us all our daily needs?

4. Strong Tower: (Proverbs 18:10)

Just as a strong tower keeps us safe from a storm, so too is God’s name a place of safety for us. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” When we trust Christ as our Savior, we are safe from evil and sin forever. Nothing can take away God’s love for us. Our eternal hope is firm and secure in Him.

5. Jehovah-Rohi: Our Shepherd:(Psalm 23)

Psalm 23 is a comforting passage to us. It reminds us that God is our shepherd who watches over us, guides us, protects us. Jesus is the Great Shepherd who became the Lamb of God, dying in our place. This name also tells us that He loves each one of us. Jesus told a parable about a shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep to seek one lost sheep (Luke 15). God has gone to great lengths to show His endless love for us.

There are so many more names of God than these five. The more we study His names and their meanings, the more we trust Him. He has proven faithful and worthy of our trust. When we are lost, wandering in our own wilderness, uncertain and afraid, we can call out to our Strong Tower, El Shaddai, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rohi, and El Roi and know that He hears, He sees, He provides, He cares, and He is mighty and strong to save us.

Which of God’s names have special meaning to you?

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The Healer of Our Soul: Psalms of Lament

30. October 2012 · 11 comments · Categories: Anxiety, Depression, fear, Spiritual Growth · Tags: The Healer of Our Souls

This post begins a mini series on the power of God’s Word in healing our wounded souls.

When the heart weighs heavy, it begs for relief. The burden of sorrow, grief, and pain is sometimes impossible to bear. Feeling alone and abandoned, the heart sinks into despair.

“I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.” Psalm 6:6

My own heart has been in this place many times. Drowning in despair, I have wondered if it was even okay to feel such heavy feelings. Sometimes, I’ve questioned if God had rejected me because of my dark emotions. And the thought that always lingered, will I ever get out from underneath the weight of sorrow?

Intense emotions can be isolating. We think no one else can understand. Our life seems too messy to share with others. God may seem silent and we wonder if He’s left us. We feel stuck in the bottom of a pit and think we’ll never be able to climb out.

Our thoughts and emotions whisper lies, keeping us in the pit. The truth is we have not been abandoned or left alone. God promises to never leave us or forsakes us. He knew there would be times when we would be overcome by feelings. He provided a place for us to go, process them, and find the freedom to voice those feelings directly to Him: The Psalms.

The book of Psalms expresses all the range of emotions that humans feel. Calvin described the Psalms as “an anatomy of all the parts of the soul.” The book contains Psalms of thanksgiving and praise, where the writer voices his joy in the Lord. There are Psalms that recount God’s provision and salvation from enemies. The Psalms also speaks to all the wounded places of the human heart: grief, sorrow, fear, injustice, and guilt. These Psalms are called laments and it is in these Psalms where we find the form and structure for expressing to God our own feelings.

In the Psalms of lament, we find that we are not alone. These overwhelming feelings have been experienced by others before us. The laments also show us that God wants to hear from us. Many of the Psalms were used by the Jews in their corporate worship, even the Psalms of lament. God desires that we come to Him with all our feelings, no matter how painful and intense. Because it is God who is the healer of our souls.

There are more Psalms of lament than any other kind in the book of Psalms. Many are penned by King David, the man after God’s own heart. All but two of these laments follow this structure: an expression of the author’s feelings, followed by asking for something the author needs, and ending with an affirmation of trust in God.

The laments ask the difficult questions of life such as, “How long?” “Why?” and “When will you answer me?” They also seek specific answers from God including, asking for relief, for healing, for salvation and for rescue. Lastly, they end with an expression of trust in God. They give God praise and thanksgiving for all He has done in the past and all that He will do in the future.

“How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” Psalm 13:2

Psalms 44 and 88 are the only two that do not follow this form; they don’t end in praise and thanksgiving. Perhaps this is because there are times when our emotions are so overwhelming, we need the Holy Spirit to intercede and express to God for us what is on our heart. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

When sorrows overwhelm the heart, we need to go to God with those burdens. We don’t need to clean ourselves up first before coming into God’s presence. Jesus already did that for us. Because of Christ, our messy lives and heavy hearts have been covered by grace. We are free to come into the presence of God, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and pour out our heart at His feet. Asking for healing and grace, we bring to Him all our burdens.

Using the structure of the laments, we can put our feelings into words. Writing them as a prayer to God can be a part of the healing process. But even when words fail us, which sometimes they do, we can trust that He knows what is on our hearts. In faith, we are expectant that He hears us. In hope, we wait for His response. And in love, we trust that His joy will come in the morning.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6

Have you ever written a lament to God? How have the Psalms helped you?

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