How's Your Soul?: Why Everything that Matters Starts with the Inside You

by Judah Smith

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (17:9).

Ultimately the stability and security and outcome of our souls need to be in the hands of someone who is bigger than our souls and greater than our turmoil. That someone is God, and he invites us to go on a journey of soul discovery and soul health with him.

When was the last time my soul was at home?

He had no problem believing that he was special, that he was loved and accepted, that he was God’s favorite. He defined himself by how much God loved him. I think if every one of us adopted that attitude, it would solve a lot of the internal turmoil we face.

Here’s what I don’t think a lot of people would say: “Relationship with God? It’s about enjoying God. It’s about enjoying life, nature, good food, and friends. It’s about rest. Rest is what God wants for my life.” Yet God gives us a picture of rest by saying, “Enjoy the sights and the tastes. I want you to love it. It’s free. It’s for you. I designed life to be enjoyable.”

I created all of this on my own and I gave it to you, so don’t take yourself too seriously there, slugger. Okay? This is something I did. I made you too. So you are not God. It’s not all on you. I love you, and I made you just for me. So how about you enjoy the trees, eat some fruit, and relax a little bit. You’re not that big of a deal, just FYI.”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29). He couldn’t have been any clearer. Our souls need

What has given me joy, whether I’m the custodian or the lead pastor, is that I do it with all my heart. The joy is not in the role. The joy is in the responsibility.

Forced love is how you end up in jail.

I woke

up the next morning. It was Tuesday, and I had to lead a staff meeting at the church with about a hundred staff members. But I was still in a dark place. I kept asking people, “Have you seen The Fault in Our Stars? We have to do something! Life is so painful.” So bizarre—I was rallying people to a completely fictional cause. What is wrong with me?

I think King David, who wrote many of the psalms, was an emotional kind of guy. He was a warrior, he was a king, he was a fighter—but he was also a lover and a poet. He was complicated, just like us.

Another thing to notice here is how many questions the songwriter asks. I count nearly a dozen questions in only sixteen

verses. Things like, “When is God going to pay attention to me?” (42:2). “Where is God?” (42:3). “Why has God forgotten me?” (42:9). “Why are my enemies winning?” (42:9).

In the journey of life, emotions make great companions but terrible leaders.

Think about it—when someone asks how your day has been and you reply, “Good,” what you are really saying is, “I only went into free fall three or four times today. That’s not bad. Bad days are more like ten free falls. So it’s been a pretty good day.”

How do we interrupt the cycle? How do we short-circuit this discouragement that leads to more discouragement until finally we need an intervention just to shake ourselves out of the funk we are in?

“Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (42:5, 11; 43:5).

Maybe you have been beating yourself up because it has taken you a long time to recover your focus and your faith. You need to stop. I’m pretty sure that’s called being human. Don’t lose hope just because you’ve struggled for a while. Notice this: the songwriter is in frantic free fall for four full verses before he comes to himself and says, “Wait a minute—what am I feeling and why am I feeling it?”

We make decisions based on feelings and we call them facts. Why? Because they feel true. These are really my feelings, says this logic, so whatever belief or idea these feelings are attached to must also be true. It feels true to me, so this is my truth, and you had better not tell me it’s fiction because that would be to deny the validity and authority of my feelings.

“My general philosophy in life is to do what I feel like when I feel like doing it, and it has brought me incredible happiness and fulfillment and peace. I just follow every fleeting feeling. That is how I live my life, and it’s the secret to my happiness.”

A lot of people believe in a God. That’s within reason. That’s logical. But the artist calls him his salvation and his God. In other words, God isn’t just an impersonal, distant, unfeeling boss of the universe. He is personal. He is present. He is with us and he is for us even when we can’t see past our problems.

The max weight of the boat was 380 pounds. That was unfortunate because I’m 178 when I’m working out, and Elijah is somewhere around that as well. Our wives weigh like 95 pounds each. But it didn’t matter because this thing had cup holders. Such a good deal.

At first I was a little unsettled, but I tried to convince myself it was okay. “This is awesome, isn’t it, Elijah?” “Yeah, it’s amazing! I’m loving it.”

And inside we were all thinking, This is not going to end well.

I’m done. I can’t handle this anymore. This is too much.

If one more barge sails by, if one more unexpected thing happens, if I get one more bit of bad news, I’m going to sink internally and emotionally. I’m going to call it quits.

for security, strength, and solidity can be met only when our souls find their homes in God. Hebrews 6:17–20 describes this reality:

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

God is speaking to us about an innate need that is as universal as it is timeless: the need for stability.

Remember, we are defining the soul as the “inside you.” It’s your heart; your inner being; your mind, will, and emotions. If

An anchor is an agent of stability.

“Don’t give up on Jesus.”

“Jesus is enough.”

Jesus was enough for them; they just needed to hold on to the hope of their souls, regardless of the tumult and torrent around them. The writer painted a beautiful portrait of the hope and security and stability we have in Jesus. He said, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”

I’m sure you knew I was going to say that. I always end up there because I’m convinced it is true. Jesus is the anchor our souls long for.

When I’m in a storm, I’d much rather have a helicopter than an anchor. An anchor implies that I am going to stay right where I am. But I’d like to escape, actually. I’d like a helicopter with some well-trained Navy SEALS on board who can hoist me up and fly me away from my reality.

And Jesus replies, “I’ll be your anchor.”

“Why did you doubt?”

“Here, let me help you pack up your cardboard box.” It doesn’t happen that way, does it? We are asked to trust in a Jesus we can’t see.

Jesus asks us all: “Why do you doubt? The anchor is set. The work is finished. My love is for you and toward you. I am near. I will care for you in this life and the life to come.”

feelings and ideas? I’m going to leave, I’m going to run, I’m going to be done. I can’t do this anymore.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. You have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, and he will see you safely to the other side.

On a less violent but more widespread level, many people who claim that God is love are also outspoken in their judgment and criticism toward those who don’t agree with them or who don’t live up to their standards. And while some of their accusations and rebukes might have a basis in truth, their approach comes across as hateful and often hypocritical.

God wants us to flourish. He wants us to enjoy our lives—and he wants those around us to enjoy theirs as well. That is why it is imperative that we not just understand how paramount love is but also define it in a healthy, God-inspired manner. God is love. God invented love. So God gets to define love. And as we learn to live in his love, our souls will find themselves at home, at rest, and at peace.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices

with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Think about it. Who is primarily affected if you spend your days assuming the worst? Yeah, that coworker meant to hurt me with that comment. My wife is so manipulative. That neighbor is always mean and underhanded and subversive. Guess what? Those people aren’t going to be bothered by your bitterness. But you are. You will spend your life in a holding

“He didn’t mean it.”