Soul Care: Healing From Childhood TraumaSample

Soul Care and Why It Matters to God

Soul Care is the process of caring for the heart (the seat of the soul), which impacts the whole person. Every part of our lives matters to God, and He desires that we are well and thriving (whole in every way). 3 John 1:2 reads, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

The word soul is derived from the Greek word psyche and is often used synonymously as the self of a person- our mind, will, and emotions. As the Christian writer C.S. Lewis says, "You do not have a soul. You are a soul." And the soul needs care.

In this context, soul care is defined as the process of becoming whole or well through deliverance, inner healing, and discipleship. This process includes engaging in God's word, spirit-led disciplines, and healthy relationships that reveal the ancient paths of wholeness and true life (Jer. 6:16).

Soul Care is also an intentional practice of integrating all aspects of the human experience: spiritual, physical, relational, emotional, and mental. We are essentially taking the dark pieces of our past and holding them in the light of God’s truth (Christ). Coming into agreement with Christ sets to order the disorder from trauma, damaging words, and unhealthy relational experiences.

A brief introduction to soul and soul care is the starting point of this devotional. We cannot care for that which we do not understand. The more you understand the soul—the real you—the whole you—the more you will find the motivation to bring those dark pieces into the light of Christ and let Him mend the soul.

As we move forward, we will address the impact of childhood trauma on the soul and the strategies found in the Word of God (light of Christ) that will begin to bring healing and wholeness to the soul.