Interaction: self-image, mood, faith

Like physical dangers, emotional and spiritual dangers can cause debilitating injuries on the short and long term. Preparedness can diminish the impact.

One humiliating remark can hurt the self-image permanently; more so if it is repeated over time. Cruel and unfair labeling (such as “good-for-nothing misfit, spineless weakling, or rebel heading for jail”) may stick in a person’s mind, influencing behaviour negatively.

On the other hand, encouraging remarks may become lifelong motivators, such as “It is a good piece of work; consider my suggestions and make it even better,” or “I like your style; it shows great potential.”

To protect our self-image and selfconfidence, we must believe in our own abilities and use this belief to override unfair and destructive criticism. We must learn to evaluate our potential honestly, and not become victims of negative feedback from bullies. It is better to listen to constructive criticism from friends who also give useful suggestions for improvement.

We absorb information with our senses, digest it with our thinking-feeling-willing capacities, adjust our self-appraisal, and then act or react. It is not a one-way street; these various parts of our being influence each other. A negative mood may affect our selfimage, and low self-esteem may cause negative moods.

Relationships affect our moods and self-image, too. Marrying a person is not like buying a car. One can sell a car without much financial loss or emotional pain. Divorcing a person you loved is financially and emotionally expensive. It leaves scars.

As a young pastor, I soon discovered that many spiritual problems have an emotional side, and that emotional problems may affect a person’s faith-life negatively. It motivated me to further study in psychology.

Elijah and Elisha are called deed-prophets because God did fantastic miracles through them. To show who the true God was, Elijah had two altars built: one for Yahweh and one for Baal. The God who ignited his sacrifice from heaven would be true God.

The Baal priests prayed the whole day in vain – no answer from Baal at all. When Elijah prayed to Yahweh, fire from heaven devoured the whole altar, stones and all. The people chanted, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!” (1 Kings 18).

Because Elijah had the Baal priests executed, the wicked Queen Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah. He fled for his life to the Negev desert, and then asked God to end this life he saved by fleeing.

God did not reprimand him for his depressed mood, but sent an angel to strengthen him with food, water and sleep. Then, God brought him to Mount Sinai (Horeb), where God had given the Ten Commandments to Moses and Israel.

God restored Elijah’s faith and perspective, and sent him on a new mission.