Spiritual-Emotional Spirituality: From the Prairies to Colombia

Today, the phrase “I’ve been busy” has become a respectable response when someone is asked how they are doing. At New Life Fellowship Church in New York this answer is met with skepticism. The book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Pete Scazerro, describes a rule of life that keeps work, rest, relationships, and communion with God in balance. New Life staff evaluations are based on keeping the balance between giving and receiving — it not only benefits the staff, their spouses, and families, but the rest of the church as well.

Spring/Summer 2017 - Webb article

Thus, we must remember that it is our ability to abide in The Vine that dictates what type of fruit we bear. Waiting on the Lord to meet our physical, emotional, and mental needs demands us to slow down. When this waiting takes time, it is tempting to go forward without Him and risk fatigue — but we must remember from whom we draw our strength. Then, when asked how we are doing, we may respond more appropriately with, “I’ve been abiding”.Unfortunately, it seems we have been taught to pour out but not to drink in. Scazerro writes in his book The Emotionally Healthy Leader, “the emotionally unhealthy leader is someone who operates in a continuous state of emotional and spiritual deficit, lacking emotional maturity and a ‘being with God’ sufficient to sustain their ‘doing for God.’” We must allow God to love us not only through work, but through rest, significant relationships, and deep communion with Him. Although maintaining this balance may seem simple, it is often difficult to recognize what is driving us toward imbalance and fatigue.

— Phil is a Fellowship International missionary working in the area of Leadership Development in both Canada and Colombia.