Sunlight
God’s design of the human being is remarkable. We know a lot about the body and the mind, but we have only begun to scratch the surface. I recently listened to Andrew Huberman, professor of neurobiology at Sandford University, where he discussed how sunlight dramatically impacts the body and mind. He detailed how different wavelengths of light can “improve sleep, enhance alertness, modulate hormone levels, and improve mood.”
Its incredible how going outside can improve our mental and physical health. There is also research that certain light can be used to heal the body and reduce pain. But we are not just body and mind. Humans also have a soul, and our health can impact our inner life. Being inside too much can hurt your mood, leading to doubt and anxiety. Too little sleep can overload the part of the brain that controls willpower, making us vulnerable to temptation. It also works the other way. Sin can and does negatively impact the body, leading to sickness or lack of control (1 Corinthians 6:18; Proverbs 23:19-20). Sin destroys.
If we only look from the biological perspective and ignore the spiritual, we are missing a big part of what it is to be a human being. I have no issue with true psychology and psychiatry as long as it doesn’t ignore the spiritual. For example, I believe that some people battle social problems, such as anxiety and low self-esteem, where they need help. But if we ignore what the Bible says about sin, guilt, shame, and pride, we may actually be trying to cure the symptoms rather than the disease. Not all anxiety and self-esteem issues result from sin, but sometimes it is.
A person could be depressed because of their work hours, and they never see the sunshine. They may be socially anxious because they were never given the tools how to interact with people. They just might need a little help. How we feel doesn’t define us. But, on the other hand, we may have sinned in our life and are living with the consequences of our past. Does our past sin define us? No, I don’t believe it does. The answer here is found in Christ. Our value, worth, and dignity as Christians is not derived from who we used to be but who we are in Christ. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and the blessed reality of the gospel is the blood of Christ makes us pure. Our dear and precious Saviour gives rest and peace to all who come to him. The value of a Christian is not based on who they used to be or what they have done but who they are in Jesus Christ.
Sometimes our problems might just be we need to see the sun, and sometimes it’s because we are not looking at the Son.
