In the darkness of my alcoholism and deepest depression I faced insurmountable odds, this according to my mind and ego.
In my journey of hell and back, I found there’s an inner conflict between what we might call the mind/body on one side, and the soul on the other. It’s like we live as two beings within ourselves. The human part of us deals with instincts, emotions, and that constant urge to control or react to everything happening around us. Then there is the soul, that unchanging, eternal presence that is pure peace and love.
Often, especially in times of deep struggle, we start to believe that we are just the sum of our mistakes, our guilt, or our pain. We think, “This is who I am,” and that identity gets tangled up in what Eckhart Tolle describes as the struggle between the human and the being. The mind and ego hold us hostage, making us feel like we can never get past those negative beliefs. Meanwhile, the soul simply waits for us to let go of that fight and return to the peace we already have inside.
As scripture reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In that stillness, we find that our true identity isn’t in the chaos of our thoughts but in the quiet presence of our soul.
Lord, help us to release the struggle within ourselves. Let us recognize the difference between our restless minds and our peaceful souls. Teach us to trust in the love and peace you have placed within us, and to know that we are never abandoned. In your name, we pray. Amen.
