Spiritually Bypassing the Valley

#181

Friend,

I came across a new phrase: Spiritual Bypassing.

Have you heard of it?

Here’s the definition by John Welwood: Spiritual Bypassing is the use of “spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep personal, emotional ‘unfinished business,’ to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, and developmental tasks.”

Let me give you a scenario.

You suddenly lost your job, which means you’ve lost a section of your community and your financial security. You could be devastated, but you don’t want to be, so when someone asks, “How are you holding up?”

You say shortly, “You know, God works all things for the good.” And that’s the extent of the conversation.

Imagine if the writer of Psalm 23 did that? All we would have is “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,” and we’d miss out on the most powerful part of the Psalm:

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me

God has given us comforting scriptures, encouraging songs, and helpful phrases to encourage our walk along the valley of the shadow of death, not to “replace” our walk.

So, next time you go through a storm, and someone asks, “How are you holding up?” Then I’d invite you to be honest with yourself and them, “I know God works all things for the good, and I’m hoping to see it, but right now all I see are valleys and shadows. Will you walk with me?”

Love,

Aaron