Soul Care
A common phrase that gets thrown around a lot today is “self-care” – generally speaking, taking actions that are restful or enjoyable to an individual. There is nothing wrong with this, of course. In the Bible, God models rest for us in creation and reemphasizes it in practices like the Sabbath. Depending on the person, however, “self-care” can be fairly surface level or not reach our whole being; it may not be reaching the soul.
In Scripture, we see that we are created beings with both, “body and soul”. This distinction is seen in the Psalms and the book of Proverbs, but we also see it specifically in Jesus’s warning, “…do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) This distinct parts or terms help specify that we are both physical and spiritual beings. God created both as parts of who we are as image-bearers of him, our Creator.
Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, the world, including mankind, became fallen and imperfect. We see physical effects of the fall of humanity – diseases, sickness, allergies; we also see spiritual ramifications. Sin separates humanity from God, and all of mankind falls prey to sinful, fleshly temptations. Ultimately, everyone must face death (both soul and body), as Jesus explains in that passage I mentioned above, but in God’s loving kindness, Jesus lived a perfect life, died the death we deserve, and rose again, so that in faith, we can be reconciled, body and soul, to God.
As we live in these fallen bodies and in this fallen world, just as much as we seek care physically as we sleep, eat, take breaks, etc., our souls also need to be cared for. We may experience temptation, grief, sadness, weariness. Soul care goes beyond addressing these negative experiences or emotions, though. It is a blessing to the soul to be cared for even when feeling rested and joyful. In either scenario, or anywhere in between, where do you turn for such care?
First and foremost, we turn to God himself. As I have already mentioned, God is the creator of both body and soul, and he modeled rest for us. Go to God in prayer when you are brought low. God to him in prayer when you are happy and grateful. This same Creator has given us his Word to read. As Christians, we can turn to how God has revealed himself to better understand him and ourselves. We can revel in his goodness, faithfulness, and love in Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Look at Proverbs 16:24, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” This does come with patience though, as we turn to God for rest for our soul, this does not mean he will answer us immediately; his timing is better than our own. Isaiah 40:31 gives us a good picture of this, “…they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Another amazing example of soul care in the Bible is with Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah, a prophet of God, is both physically and spiritually tired. He is trying to carry out the will of God and is being chased by people who want him dead. He cries out to God, saying he would rather be dead. God, response, provides a place for him to sleep, and when he woke up, God had given him food to eat. In this story, we can see that care for the soul also comes with physical care. Ultimately, we cannot ignore both as God created us with both intertwined.
The thing is, as we turn to God, God has also given us his people. As we face life, we have brothers and sisters in Christ who can come alongside us. They can rejoice when we rejoice, and they can weep when we weep (Romans 12:15). For this to happen though, we need to be present with God’s people. How can others care for you and how can you care for others if you are never around? This takes commitment. It takes showing up to more than just a Sunday service and immediately ducking out. Then, as these relationships grow, friendship and vulnerability deepen. I actually wrote about life-giving friendships in my last blog post; you can find more on that subject here.
For my church, King’s Hill Church, we hope for this type of soul care, this care for the spiritual wellbeing, to happen within our Life Groups, as these groups provide a haven – a place for love and care – for anyone who enters. If you let it, environments like these small groups, can be an excellent place for your soul to be cared for and for you to care for others. This can happen as fellowship happens naturally in these groups, and as this fellowship is centered on the Word and in prayer. You are not meant to walk this life alone. God has provided a community through his church. Open yourself up to the God-given community around you, as we all seek to live out the Christlike love described by Paul in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”