Part 1 – “Healing Along The Journey”
“April showers bring May flowers!”
. . . and as a gardener, I’m always mindful of seasons. What better season than SPRING?! Everything is waking up! Gardens have been tilled, fertilized, flowers planted and now new life is literally springing forth. Nature is breathing life as bunnies, chicks, etc. are being born. Sooo whimsical, so romantic . . . for those who are in a season of being in sync with the season!
However, as I put pen to paper, we as Americans are not so prone to living true to the seasons, but rather living on the edge of rampant levels of depression and anxiety! As of December 2016, 1 in every 6 Americans are on antidepressants. If you add to that anti-anxiety meds, it’s deemed a skyrocketing epidemic! As scary as this is, it’s also revealing of the depth of pain, loss, and deep disappointment that so many are daily enduring . . . heartbreaking!
Can we stop here for a moment, breathe deeply, and say out loud, “THANK GOD FOR GOD!”
Practically speaking, we are created not just in HIS image but in HIS likeness . . . body, soul, and spirit. It’s easy to identify issues with the first two as they’re easily observed. Physically if you overeat, you’re overweight. If you don’t eat, you become anorexic and eventually die of starvation. Our souls speak of our intellect. If someone is educated or well read, it’s obvious by what they say. If someone is illiterate, it’s obvious by what they can’t say. When it comes to spirit, it’s a whole different level. More often than not, our spiritual/emotional health and wellbeing is obvious to everyone but us. It’s the real us. The hub, the heart, the engine that keeps us as we journey on. But life has a way of happening to the best of us. 100% of all humans are sure to experience the ALL of life – not just the Springs of life.
Imagine with me for a moment the view from an Alaskan cruise line. So many breathtaking photos of the infamous “ice-caps,” as that’s all that’s visible above the water. The real problem, the scary part however, is not what’s above the surface that we can see, but what’s beneath the surface that we can’t see. The TIPs are our behaviors . . . what we can see. But below the surface of each of our lives are the emotions – the who I really am! Attached to EVERY emotion is a thought.
I love the truth of God’s Word that reminds us that as a girl thinks, so is she! (Prov. 23:7)
Though thoughts are important, they’re not ALL important as information alone does not produce lasting transformation. What is attached to our emotions and our thoughts are our belief systems. Belief systems reside within our hearts. The whole of who we are! And this is what’s crucial to address as flawed or injured belief systems will not only sidetrack your destiny, but can actually take you out all together!
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS HOW WE LIVE
The enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy each of our hopes and dreams but we must be wiser to equip ourselves with the truths of God’s Word and the necessary tools given to us for freedom!
My prayer for each of us is that we would live true to the verse that reminds us, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36)
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Stay tuned as our next blog will be the unpacking of TRUE belief systems verses REAL belief systems.