What the world gives, the world can take away. But the name God gives us is eternal.
Toward the end of last summer, I felt like I was running on a constant state of empty. Even when I got enough sleep, ate healthy foods, and exercised, I sensed something was missing. I showed up at church and listened to inspirational podcasts and messages, but nothing seemed to nourish this parched place in my being. It wasn’t until I had a rare moment by myself that I realized it: my soul was thirsty for connection with God. And although I was putting myself in all the places I thought I needed to go to obtain this, I wasn’t taking time to sit still, absorb, and simply listen. Instead of reflecting on what he was teaching me, I was living in a continual state of intake.
It has never been easier for us to live a soulless life. We have endless amounts of knowledge at our fingertips and may make the detrimental mistake of confusing consumption of facts with soulful living. But in the constant scrolling and input, our souls are starving for nourishment. They’re starving for depth, truth, and meaning, and these things won’t be found by adding more information.
Caring for our souls means slowing down. It means being still and allowing God to speak in the spaces between activities on our schedules and the posts on social media. It means taking time to reflect on what he’s teaching us instead of simply throwing more scraps on the fire.
Here are four practical ways to check on your soul:
1. Take a look at your inner thought life.
We see the psalmist do this in Psalm 42:11 when he says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (NIV). The writer takes an intentional pause to examine what’s going on inside. He follows this question by commanding his soul to “put your hope in God.” His words show a keen awareness that only God can give the peace his soul lacks.
Often, our souls become overwhelmed because we run from one activity to another without ever taking time to evaluate our spiritual, mental, and emotional health. Busyness is the norm, and even if it’s not physical activity that keeps us on the go, we busy ourselves with scrolling or constant consumption of entertainment. This endless intake of information can weigh on our souls without us even being aware of it.
When we take the time to look within and take an honest inventory of our thought life, we can make adjustments where necessary. What is true? What do we need to confess to God?
2. Pay attention to your ability to feel emotions: joy, sadness, excitement, and even fear.
When our soul is unhealthy, we often become numb. Instead of feeling the depths of our emotions and responding to them, we live in a constant state of dissonance where we feel little or nothing at all. This may be a response to deep grief, where we’re trying to protect ourselves from pain, or it may be a sign of other mental health issues. In either case, it is not sign of a thriving soul, but one that is merely surviving. God made us to feel emotions, and they are an innate part of who we are as his creation. Even Jesus, who was God in the flesh, felt each emotion that we do. We see one example of Jesus’ humanity in Luke 19, where he weeps over Jerusalem:
“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'” Luke 19:41-42 ESV
Being honest about how we feel allows our bodies to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Science even shows that tears release endorphins, which can ease both physical and emotional pain. Of course, some people are naturally more emotional than others, and everyone has his or her own unique personality. But if we feel nothing, then something is wrong.
3. Pay attention to what motivates you.
Jesus warned his disciples against letting the world motivate their decisions:
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26 ESV
Jesus even went so far as to rebuke Peter for telling him that he couldn’t allow his death. Jesus knew his purpose, and he wouldn’t allow temporary comforts to deter him from it.
When our love for God and others motivates us, our souls live as they were intended to live. Yes, it is risky. As C.S. Lewis said, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” But living for anything else will lead to a shallow, joyless life and the ultimate death of our souls. We love because we were created to love, and we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, first and foremost (Matthew 22:37). Loving God in this way brings our will, heart, soul, and mind in unison and leads to a life of peace. Instead of living as a person divided, with her mind wanting one thing and her soul wanting another, we bring these integral parts of our being in unison. No, it won’t be easy because we’re constantly being pulled by distractions in every direction. But living any another way will cause much more pain than temporary numbness in the long run.
4. Ask yourself what defines you.
If someone asked, “Who are you?,” how would you respond? Would your response list all of the achievements you’ve made or accolades you've received? What would happen if someone stripped all those things away? While there’s nothing wrong with earthly success, there is an inherent danger in defining ourselves by temporary titles. Because what the world gives, the world can take away. But the name God gives us is eternal. He desires a relationship with us that surpasses anything else this life has to offer, and our identities are rooted in this connection. Peter exhorts us to live in this new identity and be different than the world around us:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
When we live this way, our souls thrive because we know who we are. We are not tossed back and forth by the tides of others’ opinions or by constant comparison. God’s name for us becomes our foundation, and it will not be shaken.
Friends, our souls are an essential part of who we are. They are what makes up our unique selves. To neglect them is to neglect a vital part of our being. Let’s take the intentional time we need to nurture them today. Let’s go to the One who created us, because he is the only One who can make us truly whole.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Sigital Skillet
Abby McDonald is a writing coach and the author of Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God. Her mission is to empower women to seek God in the middle of life’s messes and to share their faith with courage. Abby writes regularly for Proverb 31 Ministries’ daily devotions team, and her work has been featured in numerous publications. You can connect with Abby on her website where you can grab a free worship playlist to help you shift your focus toward God. You can also connect with Abby on Instagram.
