Wholeness in An Overwhelming World
How can you experience wholeness while having feelings of brokenness and overwhelm from living in a chaotic world?
There is so much going on in the world today that can cause us to lose heart, become discouraged and fearful. From chaos in the news, people in our own circles and on social media, it comes at us from all sides.
Read on if you are right there with me, friend because God wants to empower you, learn to lean on Him for encouragement and trust Him to provide for you so you can ditch the feelings of overwhelm and come into the abundance and wholeness only found in relationship with Him!
Jesus told the disciples in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Right off the bat, Jesus told his followers that there will be hardships in life but He is not one who cannot relate to us because of all He suffered here on earth and can understand what we go through in life.
One response to what Jesus has done for us as the “Suffering Servant of God” is one of gratitude. Reading how Jesus suffered for our sake fills my heart with thanksgiving!
Another response to the one who was beaten so you could be whole, is to embrace the wholeness Christ purchased for you. You no longer have to live as broken people, spiritually, emotionally or relationally. Of course wholeness, this side of heaven is not experienced fully. But through Christ, you can begin the process of healing. Begin by asking the Lord for help and lay your struggles and sins before Him. Embrace wholeness by refusing to let your fears and prejudices keep you from becoming all that the Lord envisions you to be.
We live in the world although we are not of it. Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values and systems (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and can be done while in your quiet time with Him through prayer and reading the Word.
The Bible says in Isaiah 53:5 -
“But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
As you read this passage from Isaiah 53, the crucifixion of Christ immediately comes to mind. He was literally pierced, crushed, beaten, and whipped. Even more painful was the separation he experienced from our Heavenly Father on the cross.
God wants to bring wholeness to all aspects of our lives.
The world teaches that wholeness in life is the complete harmony of the mind, body, and spirit. It has become the goal for many to find a sense of peace in life through different practices.
The idea is that one must find it in physical, emotional, social, and intellectual completeness.
The question I pose is this: How can one find wholeness in a world where we can’t even focus on being intimate with God for barely a few minutes without husbands, kids, family, friends, work or social media distracting us?
But let’s try to understand what wholeness actually means before answering that question yourself.
Sozo is a Greek word meaning wholeness...
• wholeness in spirit
• wholeness in soul (mind, will, and emotions)
• wholeness in body.
It is complete healing for body, soul, and spirit.
It also speaks of the condition of wholeness, where all the parts work together for "unimpaired health". Mark 5:23 & 28.
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
God desires “that in all respects we would prosper & be in good health just as our souls prosper.” 3 John 1:1-3
“So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:4
The good thing is that it is a work that Jesus completed at the cross, although it may not seem to be our reality at the moment.
Here are some things to keep in mind when considering how God wants to bring wholeness in our lives:
1. Most people spend too much time and energy on activities that do not bring them closer in intimacy with God. Evaluate how you spend your time.
2. Set realistic goals. In the quest for wholeness, people set unattainable goals for themselves like, “I’m going to do Bible study and pray for two hours every morning.” When they are unable to meet those goals, depression, frustration, and disappointment set in.
3. We want instant results. Spiritual growth toward wholeness is different for everyone. The path may look different but the outcomes remain the same.
4. Spend time every day in prayer and reading the Bible. Committing yourself to spiritual growth disciplines and rest is some of the most important forms of self-care.
5. Do a routine self-assessment. Find time to journal your thoughts. Write down what you feel God is saying to you and what approach you will take toward change, what kind of self-care you should explore, etc.
These 5 tips are helpful but Spiritual wholeness is not dependent on our actions, but on an acceptance of God’s acting on our part in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of our faith in Jesus and what He’s done on our behalf, God is able to pronounce us whole and remain a just God even though we often go on acting broken. We accept His declaration by faith and therefore try to live in accordance with our identity as one who is “spiritually whole” through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
“For in Him (Jesus) the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily, and in Him you have been made complete.”
— Colossians 2:9,10a
It’s my goal in life to live to the fullest for God with all joy and completeness. You cannot depend on friends, family or careers to achieve this. It comes from knowing the peace that surpasses all understanding.
In my personal life, I’ve discovered 8 areas that when prioritized based on Biblical principles, we are freed to discover all that God has for us as his daughters.