What Disfigures Us Emotionally?
Why am I like I am?
A generation or two back most of us knew nothing of what schizophrenia or bipolar really were. Now we have some understanding of the meaning of both and lots of other present-day maladies. Over recent decades Western society has turned us into amateur pop-therapists, explaining symptoms, diagnoses and treatment.
But when faced with deeper problems either in our own life or the lives of others, where do we start?
Here are six areas, any combination of which can disfigure our emotional and spiritual wholeness.
(1) dysfunctional background
Breakdown in family relationships and boundaries, emotional trauma, a damaged sense of ‘self’
(2) personal sin
Wrong choices, violation of moral standards and idolatry of the heart
(3) spiritual warfare
Satanic strongholds and demonic oppression still follow when sin opens the door to spiritual evil
(4) undisciplined living
Sloppy habits, careless indulgence and inattention to everyday responsibilities and Christian disciplines
(5) deficient spirituality
Lukewarmness, a superficial attitude to spiritual things and little diligence to seek God
(6) biochemical disorder
Chemical imbalance, genetic predisposition, injury to the brain
God can heal in any and all of these areas. Many times, and in some of the six areas every time, we need the help of those more experienced or particularly trained to work with us. We simply don’t have in ourselves the resources to get free.
God wants you whole. Never give up the desire to be a whole person.