Are any of these thoughts showing up in your mind lately?
2. Why is it that the promises of Scripture don’t seem to apply to me?
3. Why does my life hurt, and why can’t I seem to hear God in the midst of it?
4. Why does it feel like my prayers are just hitting the ceiling?
5. Do I not have enough faith because I have a mental health diagnosis?
6. Is God is disappointed in me, even though He loves me?
7. Why don’t I feel the peace God promises when I love Him so passionately?
8. How come I still seem to have trouble in my relationships even though I have put my difficult past behind me?
9. My abuse was so severe, and I am told to “forgive and forget”. How can I do that? And, if the truth be told, I don’t want to do that!
10. What does it really mean, to forgive?
11. I am angry, does that mean I haven’t forgiven?
12. What does it mean to be created in God’s image?
13. If God is the source of unconditional love, why can I not read the Bible with anything but judgment and condemnation?
14. I can't get rid of these "Negative" feelings! (anger, sadness, feeling rejected, low self-worth, depression, anxiety, worry, suicidal thinking, etc.)
15. Where are these strange intrusive thoughts coming from?
16. God must be mad at me; no matter how much I pray or get prayed for, I still cannot _______. (you fill in the blank)
17. Why do I have the same recurring dreams/nightmares?
18. Prayer just doesn't work for me; I never feel like anything changes.
19. Is my depression really just a lack of faith?
20. If I'm not perfect, or my family isn't perfect, people (and God) will be disappointed in me.
Some people call these types of thoughts dysfunctional, some call them the lies we believe, some call them, somewhat hopelessly, 'This is just the way I am'. No matter what you call them, know that you are NOT alone! Everyone has had these thoughts - if you know they are causing you inner turmoil, this is the time to do some probing into where they are coming from...
These thoughts are common among God's people, whether they are still struggling within the church, or have given up seeking answers within the context of a spiritual community. Perhaps there is trauma or abuse in their past. Perhaps they grew up in a family that was in the throes of addiction. Perhaps they simple had a sensitive heart, a child's perception of life, and no one noticed a heart receding and cloaking itself to avoid emotional pain.
These thoughts reflect places in the soul that don't fully comprehend the truth of God, His all encompassing, unconditional love, His embracing of us in the midst of flaws as well as so called strengths. There is nothing hidden before His eyes, and He desires to lead us into a complete understanding of His ways.
These thoughts can be changed! The foundational premise of all inner healing is that "God desires truth in the inward parts:
What a beautiful promise! He will make me know His wisdom in my hidden parts - those parts/thoughts that don't know His ways yet, where these thoughts flow from! He is already at work, but He waits for us to join Him in order that we can learn and apply the wisdom He is imparting...Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.Psalm 51:6
And learning how to join with Him, to discern His wisdom and truth as well as the faulty beliefs driving those troubling thoughts, is what this blog is all about.
And if you want to check out some "next steps" you can find some helpful prompts at my "Paths of Healing" tab in the navigation bar! Or just click here...
