Philippines: The Path for Spiritual Healing - Part 1

As I continue to pray for my family in Christ in the Philippines and all those that were impacted by this Typhoon, I thought about the time it will take to heal. Emotional healing is important, but spiritual healing is essential!

There is a clear understanding of the process we go through emotionally when dealing with grief.

1.     Denial. Inability to admit the reality of loss or injury. “I refuse to believe this has happened.”

2.     Acceptance. Admitting the reality of loss or injury. “I accept the fact this has happened.”

3.     Anger. Feelings of hostility aimed at something or someone. “I’m taking it out on you, myself, or keeping it inside.”

4.     Regret. Feelings of guilt and remorse that lead to sadness. “If I had only . . . this wouldn’t have happened.”

5.     Sadness. Feelings that can often lead to depression. “I don’t feel like eating, going to school, or doing anything. I just want to be left alone.”

6.     Depression. Deeper lapse into sadness and remorse. “I don’t want to do anything . . . I just can’t cope.”

7.     Adjustment. Working through sadness and depression. “It’s time to get on with life . . . taking a new direction.”

The best way to begin the spiritual healing is to minister to those that are in need. This will give your heart and soul purpose. Still, I believe the Christian has a spiritual process to go through personally also for the pain and grief.

Our first reactions: Rationalization and Questioning God – sometimes reversed.

Rationalization – Come up with a good reason for it happening. This often leads to some very strange and even dangerous conclusions. Rationalization won’t fix this.

Questioning God – Why Lord? Satan, and I am sad to say, a lot of the Christian community try to make you feel that asking God why is a sin. Job asked a lot of questions, yet the Scriptures point out that he never sinned with his lips. There is no scripture I am aware of that states it is wrong to ask God questions. Doubt, is a problem,  but not questions. God created us inquisitive.

The real issue is trust, which is lost when we doubt. From the beginning, the adversary provoked man and woman to doubt God’s love and motives.

There are two roads to take after those initial reactions. One is doubt, which will lead to distrust and bitterness. That road will lead to destruction.

The other road is what I want to talk about as we look at a man that dealt with much grief, let’s learn from him.

Job was a man that lost it all; his family, his wealth, his health - even betrayal of friends and his wife. 

Through this time Job said a lot of things – even concerning the Lord; some may be uncomfortable for us, still in the midst of all he went through – there are statements he makes that I believe we can gain from.

A. Live what you know – this is how you get past the initial shock of the emotions. How do we do that?

·      1. Refuse to move to emotionalism; i.e. living based on what you feel, instead of based what you know.

Job 1:20-21 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

The battle begins in the mind; Job knew he had to stay close to God. Our flesh will try to move us away from God using our emotions, but the new nature knows how important it is to depend on God when in the midst of trials.

·      2. Mental understanding of life – it includes difficult times.

Job 2:10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

This trial took away any thoughts of living in “the bubble”! Why some believers think that when you become a Christian your life moves into a protective bubble, that keeps you from experiencing hardships is beyond me. Scripture testifies to the direct opposite! Not only does life happen to everyone, when you are in the family of God, the adversary will become quite active against you. Here is the BIG difference; if you are not in a relationship with God, you go through that hardship alone. However, as His child, He is always there to guide and comfort you through life, the good parts and the difficult parts. God promises to be with us in the midst of all that happens, He does not promise to keep us from it.

Living in “the Bubble” leads to doubt because no one escapes life! In this fallen world everyone will experience difficult and heart breaking times. 

Job has more wisdom for us, which we will look at next time. Right now ask yourself how do you handle your emotions…or do they handle you? When bad things happen, do you move closer to God or feel you cannot trust Him? Are you living on what you know or what you feel? What are you doing to know more of Who God is?