“The ‘Are you okay?’ question is scary, because it has to do with the real you.”- Judah Smith
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each.”- Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)
Judah Smith, lead pastor at City Church in Seattle, Washington, titles his latest book How’s Your Soul? Why Everything That Matters Starts with the Inside You. In his Introduction, Pastor Smith asks if you’ve ever had someone look you deep in the soul and ask, “Are you okay?”
Judah emphasizes he’s not talking about a casual acquaintance asking that question. Judah’s talking about someone who:
- really knows you
- gets you
- somehow picks up on your unspoken struggles
- cares enough to push and probe past a superficial response
Yet, even when supportive friends try to dig deeper, we put off answering their soul-searching questions for as long as possible. Because superficial, not vulnerable, fits our comfort zone.
However, Pastor Smith notes, outward indicators of success offer no proof of our inner health. The “Are you okay?” question scares us. It deals with our emotions, thoughts, decisions, values, and desires.
Although we can’t always figure ourselves out, we serve a God who knows us belter than we know ourselves. Rather than elevate our opinions or experiences, we must learn from the Designer of our souls.
In conclusion, Judah underscores the importance of our souls. Sooner or later, we’ll find ourselves in dark places, doubting our internal stability. Therefore, our souls need God’s comfort:
“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 . . .”
Today’s question: If Judah Smith asked you “How’s your soul?”, how would you respond? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Well with your soul”
