Wolfram Soldan-- Society for Christian Psychology

Administering the “Joy of the Lord” as treatment?

Posted on September 22, 2008

[This is the fourth and final post for September 2008 from Society members at IGNIS (Germany). This post is authored by Wolfram Soldan.]

Feelings of guilt and the struggle to know how to respond to it are common problems faced in counseling. We would like to help clients with these problems by wishing them “joy of the Lord” to encourage them, give them strength and a new start (like the “reset button”). But instead we know that in many situations this biblical advice does not seem to work.

Nevertheless, Nehemiah achieved success in leading the people of Israel through destructive guiltiness into gladness. It is profitable to take a deeper psychological view into this topic found in Nehemiah 8.

The context: Many Israelites had been back in Israel for about a decade and yet the walls of Jerusalem and the temple were still in shambles. When Nehemiah arrived, he disposed to rebuild the city wall in 52 days (!) against great odds. Soon, the people became familiarized with the word of god in a very intensive way. In response, the people seem to despair upon seeing their failures. After days of corporate repentance, fasting, weeping and practical steps of change (Neh. 9:1-3), Nehemiah stops the people’s acts of sorrow and directs them to celebrate for some weeks.

How is it possible for the Israelite leaders to cause such a change? There are some “ingredients” in the situation that may be helpful for us today:

• “This is the holy day for the Lord our God” (v. 9-11). The leaders connect the people to tradition of the Sabbath by using their authority as leader but anchoring that authority to the highest standard, God.
• “Don´t be sad. Don´t cry.” (v. 9). Notice the leaders make a command here. While the command does not make psychological sense by itself without specific and concrete operationalized application (e.g., stop crying) along with the command in the next point.
• “Let’s go, eat fat meals and have sweet drinks” (v. 10). Note this is positive, alternative command (concrete with relish).
• “And send some to those who have nothing prepared” (v. 10). Note the social application to care for other people so that all are included and the problems of jealousy and frustration prevented.
• Repetitions (“not distressed”, “holy day” (v. 9 – 11). Note that we need repeated reminders for what we need to do until we have comprehended and realized it (well known from Behavior Therapy).
• “The joy of (unification with) the Lord is your strength” (v. 10). Note the leaders put this celebration into the grand context of connection with God, not merely removal of guilt feelings.
• “The people went to…have great joy. Because they understood the words, they were told”and so they were led into a concrete alternate experience (mirth versus affliction). It is a sometimes ignored truth: good instructions are only as good as far you will realize them. We have to check for compliance, otherwise all efforts end up in frustration.

Application for today: When Christian counselors, filled with a heart of passion, creativity and truth, propose such concrete steps of the joy of the Lord to their clients, then the truth statements about taking joy of the Lord transforms into an effective medicine (right time, right dosage)

(Translation note: The text of the Bible in German compiles different German translations (esp. “Revidierte Elberfelder Übersetzung” und “DaBhaR-Übersetzung”). This compiled text is the basis of the English translation.)

Filed Under Biblical Counseling, Christian Psychology, Emotions, Wolfram Soldan | 3 Comments

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