Gentleness

 

Dealing with Emotional Pain

Emotional pain or psychological pain is a very difficult topic to discuss. Even reading about it can easily bring me to negative thoughts. However, I think it is important to have basic knowledge about it to prevent deeper emotional pain.

Emotional pain can happen due to rejection, misunderstanding, persecutions, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, trauma, loss, guilt, failure, low self-esteem, loneliness, the illusion of control, bitterness, sensitivity, or specific kind of personality disorders. I learned from Rick Warren that the deeper the emotional pain, the fewer words we use [1]. There are many characters mentioned in the bible that go through emotional pain.

Handling emotional pain might differ case by case. For some, it is by thinking positively (Phi 4:8), by praying in tongues, by worship, by being in God's presence, by forgiving, by letting things go, by praying with the help of the Spirit (Rm 8:26), by reading the word of God, by the prayer of others, by being in together with others, by having purpose [2], by doing exercise, by doing relaxation activity or by many others. For some, professional help might be needed or the external stressors need to be deal with. In many cases, the hand of God is the only solution. Because of the complicated feeling that comes with emotional pain, we need guidance from the Spirit to be able to make the right step that can eventually free us from the unbearable pain.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Cor 3:17 (NIV)

I pray that the Spirit of God will free you from unbearable emotional pain. Do not give up. God has not given up on you.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUbog65dP4

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btc31ssmpss

God is with you

From time to time we need to be reminded that God is with us. Many bible verses go in that direction, for example:

• God said to Moses (Exo 3:12), to Joshua (Jos 1:9), to Gideon (Judg 6:12,16), to His disciples (Mat 28:20)
• Many people/prophet said that to the people: Moses (Deut 31:6,8), Isaiah (Isa 41:10),  Zephaniah (Zep 3:17), the author of the book of Hebrew (Heb 13:5).
• By signs and wonders: by the presence of manna, cloud, fire, angels, etc.
• Holy Spirit is with us: Eze 36:27, John 14:16, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 13:14.

During my long journeys (eg. long academic studies/processes, in the effort of praying/believing for something), apart from small voices in my heart and from reading the bible, sometimes God gives me small reminders about His companionship. He suddenly answered my simple prayers/wishes (eg. want to have/eat something, want to talk with someone). Then, He said the simple sentence to me "I am with you". This helped me a lot especially when I feel emotionally tired or when I start to doubt (if I did/decided something wrong). 

The God that loves you is with you.

Freedom in the Spirit

Through several sources, last week the Bible verse in 2 Cor 3:17 got my attention.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

I tried to meditate on how it can be possible. I imagined that it works like a chemical that unclogs a drain. In our heart, there might be things that block the work of God in our life, such as sin, hurt, bitterness, negative-emotion, disappointment, confusion, etc. Maybe it is even something that we are not aware of or not understand. With immersing our self in the Holy Spirit, it gives the freedom to the Holy Spirit to flow. Of course I am not sure if that is how it really works. However, try to immerse in Holy Spirit grows our trust and love in Him.