A MALAISE DEEP WITHIN OUR SOUL
TODAY, MANY OF US ARE PLAGUED BY A
MALAISE DEEP WITHIN OUR SOUL
Beneath the surface of our lives there lurks a subliminal sense of disquiet… a despondency;
perhaps a lingering struggle with depression… even to the point of despair. Let me suggest
four reasons as to why:
1. Primal Wounds of the Heart
Most of us enter adult life deeply wounded. So unless, and until, we assume responsi-
bility for the past, and allow Jesus the Healer to bind up our wounds, thereby giving us
the grace to forgive, forget, and move beyond the past, we will continue on as spiritual
and emotional cripples.
“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.” (Job 5:17, 18)
2. Cynicism of the Mind
Secretly, many of us live in two worlds. Intellectually we believe the word of God to be
true. However, when Jesus calls us to steps of faith demanding vulnerability, we often
respond with, “I can’t,” or “I won’t.” And by our refusal, we demonstrate our spiritual
cynicism that God really cannot be trusted.
“But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.”
(Hebrews 10:38 – Phillips Translation)
3. Paralysis of the Will
Many of us choose to continue being victimized by our past, our circumstances, and our
fears. Our motto is “I can’t help it,” or “I can’t do it.” So the freedom, the joy, and the victory
available to us in Christ remain a distant illusion that recedes with each passing day.
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
4. Overcrowding of the Soul
We are exposed to too much noise, activity, information, and pressure. Too little time is
taken for meditation, rest, contemplation and prayer. So the jostling encountered by
today’s typical urban professional is usually unkind to the inner life of the soul.
“And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and
confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)
The enemy’s objective, to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10) the abundant life of Christ
within us, is being realized if we fail to address these critical areas of life. Ultimately, the
choice is ours.