Have you ever noticed that when you get sick physically, it affects you in so many more ways than just your physical body? Being sick always reminds me how "connected" we are to ourselves. We tend to break life up into segments- physical, emotional, spiritual, etc, but all of the pieces of who we are overlap and work together to create the great whole.
So, when I'm sick, I don't just hurt physically. I suffer mentally. (Granted, most people believe that I suffer mentally on a regular basis.) I also suffer spiritually. For whatever reason, a sick body typically leads me to a sick soul, where I feel very weak about who I am.
Since this is a blog primarily about spiritual things, I thought I'd share a few of the ideas I have about staying strong in a time of suffering spiritually. Maybe some of these will be helpful to you if you find yourself in a time of "soul sickness." Here's a few things I do, to varying degrees of success:
1)Recite one-sentence prayers. I don't know about you, but I really struggle to pray when I'm sick. I tend to have less compassion for others when I feel this way, but I also feel that a mental fog makes it tough to concentrate. I find the ancient "Jesus Prayer" to be useful- Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. Repeating this over and over keeps my heart open to God.
2)Remembering Scripture. I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 12:1-3, and Ephesians 4:8 are helpful to me in times of feeling low.
3)Don't Get Dramatic. When I'm sick, I can feel like the world is closing in and nothing is worthwhile. I have to remind myself that this is no time to make major life decisions, or to think that those major decision are even on the line. Sometimes, I have to just take a deep breath and say, "this too shall pass". It doesn't sound very spiritual, but it helps remind me that healthier days, physically and spiritually, will come.
How about you? What do you do when you start to feel a spiritual low? We've all been there- share your thoughts!
May you stay encouraged on your journey today,
Nick
1 comment:
Love the one line prayer idea.
I practice gratitude. I have this "noun game" I play. Let's say I'm in bed. I rest on the back of my pillow, look around the room and start naming objects. Sounds boring, but it's fascinating. Bedspread. Light switch. Walls. Ceiling. Window. Trees. Slippers. Books. Rocking chair. Bathroom.
Within a very short time, a wellspring of gratitude springs up and I begin to realize how utterly blessed I am. It always, ALWAYS makes me feel better, particularly my mood and reaction to others.
I also do this with sounds, adjectives, and so on. It's fun and an easy thing to do with the kids too.
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