November 16, 2021

The spiritual side to mental and emotional health

How do we nurture our spiritual health along with our mental and emotional health? A lot of times in our pursuit of mental and emotional health we neglect our spiritual being. Why? Because that’s what culture tells us to do. There are tons of books, podcasts, and blogs on how to be a better person, and those things aren’t bad, but if they’re not making you a better follower of Jesus they’re not helping your whole being. 

In this episode, Heather and Jamie talk about the spiritual side of mental and emotional health. Check it out!

 

You are a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual being. 

Just like everything that plays out in our life has a physical, emotional, and mental effect, everything that happens in our life also has a spiritual side to it. The conflict, the bad attitude, the hurt feelings, there is a spiritual side that affects the furthering of the Gospel in you and in your community.

Genesis 4v6-7 shows a conversation with God and Cain. Check it out: 

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

YOUR BATTLE IS NOT JUST BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR EMOTIONS.

Sin is crouching at the door. Your battle is not just between you and your emotions, it’s a battle between you and sin. Though, sin is far more practical than you may have always imagined.

The spiritual side: What is sin?

A few chapters before this conversation with Cain, God has a conversation with Cain’s parents, Adam and Eve. It’s a pretty popular story about not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. 

If you’re anything like us, you probably always considered that to be a story about not sinning, and doing what God says instead. While not a bad application of the story, we think there’s a more formational approach that gives you a greater reliance on God.

Check out Genesis 2v8-9 ESV

8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the human whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst [middle] of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.

Let’s paint a picture with the above verses. Imagine there’s a garden, in a greater land called Eden, and in the middle of the garden, there are two trees. One is a tree of life and the other is a tree with the knowledge of good and bad. Do you see it? Good. 

So, why two trees?

Okay, so here’s what we think. What do we do with food? … Eat it, and it sustains us. We can’t live without food (and preferably mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese, right?). We are physical beings reliant on physical food for energy. The author of Genesis knew this and the language here, “don’t eat this, YES eat of that,” is no accident. These trees are telling us where we were always meant to find our sustenance. (Physically, mentally, emotionally, and SPIRITUALLY)

Everyday we have the option between these two trees. We can find wisdom, sustenance, and our being from God or we can find it apart from Him.

Yes, it is spiritual. (Two options for life)

Every day, in every situation, you have a decision to be sustained by two things—God’s own life or wisdom apart from God. 

We want you to find emotional, physical, and mental healing, but we know that you will not find life, and life to the full apart from God. 

 

Share your change! 

Heather and Jamie would love to hear what step toward health you’re going to make!

Send them a message by texting LIFE to 23101 and following the prompts. 

Show notes:

Watch this message on Depression & Anxiety from Pastor Chris Hodges.

Read this blog on Spiritual Warfare and Conflict Resolution.

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