Heart-Level Healing

To sum up the trip, I'd like to talk about. I learned a lot through the six-week ministry experience in Tokyo, as I'd hoped, but this was the biggest inadvertant lesson.

I am prone to dismiss psychological talk. Yes, the Bible has much to say in terms of comfort and encouragement, and I realize the value of such edification, but seeing in childhood pain the root of today's actions seemed to avoid responsibility. That was before project debriefing.

A dear friend of mine, who was very honest about his personal struggles while in Tokyo, has long battled depression. If he feels down or excluded, sometimes voices inside his head tell him that he deserves what he's going through, leading him to further isolate himself. I noticed that while our team was getting ready to head back to the U.S. in high spirits, he was present for games (Nertz, Settlers of Catan) but otherwise shying away from group activity. Tried to encourage him in pursuing interaction--without success.

Back in LA, Campus Crusade had scheduled a two-hour period where we as a team could air any remaining concerns or apologize to one another. Though I knew I had some selfishness/isolation tendencies of my own to confess, I wasn't anticipating what came next. My friend had a panic attack! Another friend treated his hyperventilation by having him breathe into a paper bag, but then the struggle began.

We asked him what was going on; he began saying that he was "rotten to the core" and always ruining everything. The latter, as several of us pointed out, was not true at all--he had actually been a huge source of joy and strength by unashamedly sharing his weaknesses and growing in love for us & the Japanese students. The former was a lie of the devil, given that my friend is fully redeemed with the blood of Jesus and thus given His perfect character! We prayed truth from the Bible over him, but it was heartbreaking to hear him sob that we should be spending our time on someone else. Several people, including myself, were able to share deeper sins than expected because of his public struggle.

At the next day's encouragement session, he had retreated inward and kept silent while we shared what we each loved about every team member. When the time was over, his team leader came up and gave him a big, unreciprocated hug. I left while the embrace was still in progress. A few others stayed behind and read him Scripture, particularly Romans 5 & 8, as they prayed over him again. When confronted directly with the fact that Christ has already seen us at our worst and borne our every sin, requiring us only to have faith in [trust & obey] Him, my friend finally accepted healing--and I saw him next with a ridiculous grin all across his face. God restored his joy!

What did I learn from this?

1) The Word of God is true: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10) We must acknowledge our sins, even to one another.

2) The truth of God's Word, not even seemingly sound advice, is what we need to effectively combat our & other's problems.

3) God is still healing people, and this is something nonbelievers as well as Christians need from Him. Past hurts matter to Him Who has already dealt with them, and I trust that my brother will be specially equipped for ministry through this process of growth.

4) Perseverance in relationships & prayer bear real Spiritual fruit as God gives the increase.

5) God is merciful!