Take the word ‘soul’. What on earth does it mean? Going to the dictionary will give these three definitions:
- the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
- emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, especially as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance
- the essence or embodiment of a specified quality
It’s a deep concept but one that’s really worth trying to understand better than a superficial ‘google search’ for it is something than helps us to understand ourselves. Going within can lead to a labyrinth but it can also be most revealing. The oldest known use of the word was in 1406 BC, found in the ancient book of Deuteronomy (4:29) and refers to how a living being might best connect with God so it’s pretty profound. But let’s keep things simple and see what others have said about soul:
- ‘Comparison is a thug that robs your joy. But it’s even more than that – comparison makes you a thug who beats down somebody – or your soul’ – Ann Voskamp
- ‘Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak’ – Thomas Carlyle
- ‘Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold’ – Bob Marley
- ‘Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul’ – Dorothy Day
There is general agreement that the soul is one of the most fundamental parts of a human being and is to be both protected and developed. ‘Soul music’ is one of many artistic forms where individuals seek to express something of their inner selves and has power to touch the soul of others in their hearts and emotions. Going back to the earliest uses of the word soul, you will come to ‘psyche or psuche’ referring to the ‘breath of life’, then the soul in all its connotations. It is in Genesis where you hear of God putting the ‘breath of life’ into Adam’s body. No surprise then that the complexity of humans shows there is a body (that bit is easy) but also a soul, sometimes distinguished from a spirit! Theologians have debated whether there are three parts – body, soul and spirit (Trichotomy) – or just two (Dichotomy) – body and soul. That is less important than the fact there are two aspects to being human, a physical body that dies and the bit that lives on which is the soul or spirit of a person. You know this when you see the dead body of someone you love – they are different because something has left them.
- ‘I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well’ – Psalm 139:14
- ‘We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure—belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him’ – 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24
- ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart’ – Hebrews 4:12
- ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God’ – Psalm 42:1-2
We spend a lot of time and money looking after the needs and desires of our bodies but how much time caring for our souls? Personality, character and heart, yes they’re probably part of ‘the inner you’ or your soul, that bit that makes you more than a lump of flesh! Is your soul content as you search it? Has it found peace yet? If you find unresolved things in there like guilt or anxiety, listen to the words of Jesus: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27)
It’s time to give yourself some ‘serious soul care’ and take a look within!
Here’s a reflective song based around one of the early Psalms to help you think this through a bit more deeply – Behold (Then Sings My Soul) Hillsong Worship
For more reading: Rescue – Connect4Life