Healing the Inner Child

The reality of thorny issues, difficult problems, relational conflicts, illness and sickness is plainly stated in the Bible and written in our daily papers. We humans have a fallen human nature, live in fallen world and battle against fallen spirits. Thus, the Christians battle against the world, the flesh and the devil is a constant issue.

Hurricane Charley recently struck the USA, killing several people and destroying numerous homes and businesses. This is evidence of a fallen world. God may sometimes send storms as a punishment for sin but that is rare. Hurricane Charley was more than likely the result of nature.

We can see a combination of the flesh and the devil in the evil acts committed at Columbine High School and the homicide bombers around the world. There is no simple psychological theory that explains mass murder and suicide. Can we understand evil on such a scale without considering the evil one?

But the flesh is also a culprit in many of our problems. Scripture uses several strong images to indicate that we humans are scarred deeply by life's experiences. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we can find many references to a wounded heart and soul. I have seen first hand what St. James in 1:13-15 calls holes in the soul. He uses a Greek term, epithumia, that indicates that a person's soul is easily damaged by insults and or spiritual neglect.

After church we had lunch with our two grandchildren, Jacob, nine and Lily, two and I was reminded of how easily little children pick up on both good and bad things around them. Life or death are in the power of the tongue. PR 18:21 so I am careful to speak only about things that will build these children up and not tear them down.

I have spent almost my entire professional life trying to heal people with holes in their souls from the traumatic events of childhood. Buckets of tears have been shed by men and women talking about the pain of an uncaring, distant father or a harsh mother. Thank God, it is possible to bring new life to the bruised inner child of a successful adult. Jesus came to Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free. IS 61

It is never too late to have a happy childhood but an ounce of prevention is worth a pind of cure.


Rich Halter and I leave August 19 to bring inner healing to Russian Christians. The entire nation has suffered from unimaginable trauma for over seventy years. The number of persons who must live with holes in their souls is almost 100%. Please pray for us. The future of the people depends on Christians being healed.