8 Tips to Recover from Soul Injury
Often, I am asked, “What is soul health?”
It’s not an easy question with an easy answer. In my latest book, INHALE Breathe Deeply | Restore Your Soul I attempt to answer this question and also the question of how to heal from spiritual injury. Below you’ll find a few short excerpts from the book.
Soul health refers to the genuine well-being of your inner self—your mind, heart, and spirit.
I know, it seems a bit vague.
INHALE, page 1-2.
“The idea of loving God with all your heart and soul is obscure and difficult to define. Because the soul is mostly indiscernible, it is hard to have anything but a shallow grasp of what soul health means…to be fair, it’s tough to manage what we cannot see or touch.”
The soul is regarded as the core of a person who is created in God’s image, and for all of us, having a healthy soul is vital to a satisfying spiritual life. It encompasses three areas, 1. Maintain an ongoing pursuit of God and spiritual growth and progress, 2. Develop the ability to self-reflect and acknowledge ways your soul has been injured, and 3. Build depth in friendships and learn to live in harmony with fellow Christians. These three areas demand your attention as well as intention.
At its foundation, soul health is about pursuing and maintaining your walk with God.
For example, consider the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). A soul seeking health with desire these qualities as they are clear indicators of God's transformative work in you. None of them are something you do – but what you become as you pay attention to soul health! Soul health also involves your emotional and mental well-being. God cares about the whole person. In Psalm 23:1-3 the writer speaks to the holistic care God provides (to lead you to a place of rest, peace, refreshment and restoration). This encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of your life.
Soul Injury
God understands how your soul has been injured. He lovingly nudges you toward healing. He knows when you’d rather not think about weighty matters, and he isn’t offended by your hesitation. He waits patiently as you wade in and work toward growth.
How do you approach it when your soul is injured? Do you hesitate to lean in close to God or his people? What about the days you feel weary from the struggle, do you simply withdraw?
Even though it can feel daunting, do you believe you can heal from the wounds in your soul? Because spiritual injury can occur in any life.
INHALE, page 65.
“Some wounds are perpetrated against us, with other injuries are inflicted by us. It is helpful to recognize the root of an injury and learn to take responsibility for the parts we have brought on by our own actions.”
Your wounds may come from a negative experience within a Christian community, and you’ve experienced judgmental attitudes, hypocrisy, neglect, manipulation, betrayal, or leadership abuse. But just as easily, wounds in your soul can also come from your own sin, your harmful habits and your own bad choices.
INHALE, page xi.
“If you are anything like me, deep inside, you yearn to have a vibrant soul and a meaningful connection with God. If life were perfect, there would be no wounds on your soul and no unease when looking deeper within. But life isn’t perfect, and no one deals proficiently with all the issues that come along.”
So, how do you recover?
8 Tips to recover from Spiritual Injury
Healing from spiritual injury is personal and often a gradual process.
Here are eight ideas that have helped me recover.
1. Learn to be self-reflective. Make it a regular practice to slow down and ask yourself what is brewing under the surface.
INHALE, page 38.
“Becoming self-aware is the first step toward creating positive change. This comes about through introspection which is the act or process of examining your thoughts and your motives. Taking time to contemplate all that lies in your heart will give you the insight as to why you think or behave as you do. The practice of introspection helps you develop a more authentic and unguarded soul.”
If you are someone who tends to push away uncomfortable truths because they feel awkward, you are not alone. Many people ignore or suppress the ache of soul injuries. But it only prolongs the pain and often aggravates it to become a bigger issue. Learn to look deeper, to be honest about what you see. When you do, you will find yourself knowing what to address and begin to see progress through the fog of injury.
2. Admit it when you realize you may have a distorted view of God. This easily happens, because it’s hard for our minds to grasp his might, but also, if you’ve been injured from association with a harmful church community sometimes your faith gets skewed.
3. Recognize and name your trouble. Be honest with others about what you find as you become more introspective. Admit areas where you feel injured or weak. Putting a name to it allows you to consider how to overcome it. Sharing it with a trusted friend or coach helps you make progress in your personal walk with God.
INHALE, page 121.
“The Latin phrase veritas non quaerit angulos means ‘truth seeks no corners for concealment’. When you are ready to share your truth, you no longer look for places to hide.”
4. Get objective input. It is hard to see clearly when you are in pain or when you are looking through a fractured lens. Talk to a trusted friend or a counselor. Allow others to help you navigate the path to spiritual health.
INHALE, page 119.
“Pretending all is okay in your soul can lead to bone-crushing weariness. If you are trying to hold up a false front to others to appear better than you are, your relationships will remain shallow because you don’t allow it to be honest.”
5. Find a safe community. Spiritual healing will come easier in the context of a safe and supportive community.
This may mean finding a new church or a different group of Christians who provide grace and understanding. Don’t fear the idea of looking wider than your small community. As you branch out, you discover what your faith means to you.
6. Set boundaries. It may be necessary to set healthy boundaries with people or groups who have injured you. Establishing emotional and relational limits protects you from further harm as you are working towards soul healing.
7. Practice Forgiveness. When you decide to forgive someone for some harm done against you, the help that comes from doing so is for YOU – not for anyone else. Forgiveness is central to healing from spiritual injury. This doesn’t mean excusing the behavior or allowing it to continue but releasing the grip that bitterness and anger have on your soul.
INHALE, page 67.
“The goal of a healthy soul is not to diminish what you’ve been through or even erase your memories of the situation, but to help east the pain over time as you gain a better perspective of it. The key to healing begins with your readiness to face the wound, practice forgiveness, learn openness and reframe the situation from a spiritual standpoint.”
8. Give yourself time and patience. Recovery from spiritual injury takes time. Be patient with yourself, as sometimes the process of healing may include setbacks or facing some difficult emotions. Lean close to God throughout the journey as he offers you strength and renewal.
Soul health is the genuine well-being of your inner self—your mind, heart, and spirit. If you have experienced any spiritual injury or hurt, it is possible to regain spiritual health and reestablish a healthy relationship with God and others.
If you need a boost in your spiritual journey, Christian Life Coaching by Janet can help!