Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?

• Proverbs 18:14

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

• Proverbs 17:22

He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.

• Psalm 147:3

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

• Psalm 34:18

When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

• Psalm 32:3-4

“The danger with sickness of the spirit Is just that a certain amount of health is required in order to become aware and acknowledge that one is sick.”

• Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations (from Thoughts that Radically Cure)

Scholars attribute sickness of the Spirit as a disconnect from God.  This could be due to apathy, sin that goes unconfessed, bad habits, and disobedience.  Odd how they put both disobedience and sin as causes.  Maybe that is to differentiate between sins of commission and sins of omission.

The result of sickness of the Spirit can be lack of peace, spiritual paralysis, or a hardened heart.

A lack of peace and with the right words of encouragement, we could seek help.

But Kierkegaard may have hit the nail on the head when it comes to spiritual paralysis and hardening of the heart.  If we are too far gone, how can we see the problem in our spirit?

Sickness of the Spirit may rob us of our Heavenly reward, but not our salvation.  We will be ineffective here on earth.

But this is something to avoid in the first place.  Pray, study God’s Word, and surround yourself with Christian friends that can hold you accountable.  Be honest.  Confess your sins.  And repent.

If we stay diligent and keep our eyes on Jesus, we avoid the sickness of the Spirit in the first place.

If we stumble, we pray to God about it and get back up and on the path to Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.