Happy New Year!

It’s the beginning of another year. The time where many of us are reflecting on last year’s journey. Some have already made goals or resolutions for this year. Others may already be actively working their plans to improve in the areas where we think we fell short last year. Maybe you’re determined to shed that stubborn 10 pounds that won’t seem to melt away or those 15 pounds gained over the holidays. 😊 

We’re bombarded by commercials and ads promising results or quick fixes to help us meet our goals. Exercise programs, meal plans, that one pill or shot that will be the sure-fire answer to our problems. Have problems falling asleep? Green, white, or maybe blue noise is the answer. Feeling stuck? Maybe some positive thinking will help you find your way. What I’ve learned though is that while they may provide an immediate solution to whatever ails us, their promises are conditional and sometimes even temporary.

For instance, if you read the fine print, you’ll discover that the moment you stop their program, all your hard work dissipates and the pounds start flooding back. Maybe you’ve experienced this roller coaster yourself. The truth is that there’s no easy fix. Some things in life, most things in fact, require hard work and regular maintenance. The same is the case with our souls.

While it is important to care for our physical and mental health, it’s just as important to care for our souls. We try to go to the doctor annually to ensure that everything is working as it should. We even take our cars into the mechanics for maintenance so that it doesn’t break down. We take these preventative steps because we understand that if we don’t, our bodies will develop diseases that could lead to chronic conditions that could even be terminal. We know that if we fail to get our oil changed, our engines could breakdown. When our souls are neglected though, we often ignore the signs or mistake them for something else.

Just like our bodies require physical sustenance, and water and movement to operate at ultimate capacity, our souls are similar. There’s a reason that Jesus tells the enemy in the wilderness, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)(ESV) There’s a reason why God “makes us lay down in green pastures and leads us beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)(ESV) What’s the reason you ask? It’s because our physical, mental and emotional bodies are all connected to our souls. In other words, when one suffers or is ailing, it has a direct impact on the other. Similarly, when we neglect one, they all suffer. The challenge with soul care is that unlike other aspects of our body, we often don’t see the damage that has occurred to our souls, or how empty we are, until other symptoms have manifested.

When our vehicles need oil, most of our cars have a check engine light that illuminates on the dashboard. The mechanic even puts a reminder sticker on the windshield to prompt you when to return for the next oil change. If we drove our cars too long without oil, the engine would start knocking and stuttering, and even smoking to indicate that there was a bigger problem. When our bodies are hungry, our stomachs start to grumble or we get hangry. If we ignore those signs, some of us get headaches or we start to feel weak or faint. With our souls though, it’s not always that easy to detect.  

We want to run our race well and finish strong, but we often fail to realize how our good intentions under mind our goals. We want to lose 15 pounds, but we don’t get enough sleep at night. We need more time to rest and with God, but because we like pleasing people, we don’t know how to say, “No.” We’re in desperate need of Sabbath rest, but instead we settle for the poor substitute of ice cream or binging our favorite show. We’re literally exhausted from carrying the weight of the world and trying to solve everyone’s problems and rescue them from their poor choices, but we don’t know how to stop.

On the outside, we appear accomplished and busy, but on the inside, we’re detached and bored. Meanwhile, our souls or crying out, parched and depleted, but we’re so distracted or caught in this cycle, we can’t see the signs.

In taking care of everyone else and neglecting our own soul care, we’ve forgotten the importance of abiding in the presence of God. We’re so used to doing everything on our own, we’ve forgotten that apart from Him, we can do nothing, and we will never be fruitful on our own. (John 15:4-5) This year, as we’re making our resolutions and working our plans to meet our goals, let’s take a moment to reflect.

Let’s take an honest look at not just what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it. Let’s ask the hard questions: Is this life giving? Is it nourishing my soul? Is this bringing me closer to God, or farther away from Him? Is what I’m doing going to cause me to sacrifice my time with God?

May our one goal this year be this: “to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”(Hebrews 12:1-2)(ESV) As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 9:24, in every race, there’s only one winner who receives the prize. Let’s run our race this year, so that we may obtain it. Through prayerful reflection and diligence, let’s take care of all parts of our body this year, as we spend more time abiding in the presence of the almighty. Put your whole self on the top of your “to do list” this year. Jesus died for you, so you’re worth it!