The soul can get completely drained, but what restores the soul? What can bring it back to life? Three things: people, places, and practices.
Quick answer: Psalm 23 says the Shepherd “restores my soul.” In everyday life, that restoration usually comes through three P’s: life-giving people, restorative places, and soul-filling practices. The deepest renewal happens where all three meet, and when we are intentional about making room for them.
This is part one of the Restoring Your Soul series. Continue with six qualities of people that restore the soul, finding a place to restore your mental health, and the five best practices to restore the soul.
In this post:
- The three P’s that restore the soul
- Finding the centre where all three meet
- How Jesus’ soul was restored at Bethany
- Quotes on rest and restoration
- Questions and a formation exercise
Life can be draining. Too much is going on, or too much has gone on. Now it feels like the energy tank is on ‘E’. Empty, Exhausted and not Enough.
You have nothing in reserve and you know that tomorrow will probably be the same.
This has become a pattern.
You give and give. You know you can’t give out of an empty cup, but it feels like the smallest of droplets in the cup are being absorbed away by someone else’s tissue paper.
What Restores the Soul? Three P’s From Psalm 23
In Psalm 23, we read this:
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
But I want to know how.
It’s all very poetic, lovely, and nice, but I want to know how the Shepherd restores the soul.
How does God come and breathe new life into a burnt-out soul?
I would suggest there are three ‘P’s’ involved in the restoring of the soul.
1. People Who Fill Your Cup
There are certain people that seem to have a restorative quality to them.
They are life givers, not drainers. Being with them seems to fill the cup of what fills and drains us. It may be nothing they do or say; it might just be their presence. Their ‘being there’ seems to add something to the soul.
I am an introvert, meaning that I like my alone time and find my soul is restored by having quality alone time. But I also know the restoration that comes from connecting with one or two other people. Smaller numbers, the better for me. Large conferences and events drain me.
Others re-energise through going to conferences and large events. The more the better. It’s like they feed off the energy of the room. Good for them. Go for it.
The important thing to remember is that we were never meant to go it alone. We need others and others need us. We were created for community and connection.
Some people can drain us, of course, and part of self-awareness is to recognise these people and learn how to handle the relationship time so that it is less draining.
2. Places That Restore the Soul
‘Place’ is crucial to restoration. For some, it might be a connection with nature. A walk on the beach or in the mountains. Perhaps it’s visiting an art gallery or the theatre.
It could be a church building or the local cafe.
It’s a place, and places help restore the soul.
Place offers us a context for connection.
I live in a beautiful area of New Zealand with wonderful coastline beaches. A few days ago, around sunset, I was driving to the shops for some groceries and I came around the corner and saw this sunset experience.
I was about to keep on driving when I thought ‘No, I must stop and enjoy this once in a lifetime sunset’. So I stopped and embraced the place. I soaked in the colours and the stillness. It restored my soul.
But it would have been so easy to drive on by.
There are also third places. A third place is where you can relax in public, where you see familiar faces and make new acquaintances. Discover why we all need a third place for our mental health.
3. Practices That Breathe New Life
There are probably thousands of practices that restore the soul.
Everything from cooking, painting, cleaning, writing and, of course, sleep.
They are behaviours. Actions we take.
We think, we feel, but what behaviours or practices do we involve ourselves in that help to restore the soul?
What do we intentionally, or unintentionally, do to restore the soul?
If we think for a moment about some common spiritually focused practices, these could be:
- Meeting each week with a few others for worship and connection (what most call church)
- Daily Bible reading
- Prayer
- Meditation
It could even include a little afternoon nap, or a weekly rhythm of Sabbath rest that stops the busy traffic of life.
The important thing is to take note of these practices and build them into your day.
Finding the Centre Where People, Place and Practice Meet
The Venn diagram below looks perfect. Tight, exact circles.
But as we all know, life is not purrfect. It’s more squiggly, messy and unpredictable.
- People are people – sometimes they fill, sometimes they drain.
- Places change, move and alter.
- Practices come and go.
The circles can separate, where place becomes the focus, or the practice is the focus, and there may be no people involved at all.
The important thing is to find that centred place where all three combine, and to be intentional about this.
Having a place, a few people, and a practice.
How Jesus’ Soul Was Restored at Bethany
As a final reflection, look over this story of how Jesus’ soul was restored.
- Who were the people involved in restoring the soul of Jesus?
- What was the place?
- What were the practices? (There is more than one.)
Quotes on Rest and Restoration
Questions for Reflection
- What most restores your soul? People, place, or practices?
- What practices do you have that restore a sense of wellness in you?
- Restoring the soul doesn’t just happen. There needs to be an intentionality to the restoration. What stops you from doing this?
Formation Exercise
List out the qualities of a person who is good at helping people restore their soul. List ten places that restore your soul. Create a list of 20 practices that restore your soul. Then look over the lists and share them with someone. (Maybe even me: [email protected].)
Further Reading on Restoring a Weary Soul
- Six Qualities of People that Restore the Soul
- Your Brain Needs to Rest Beside Still Waters
- Two Things Needed after a Mental Health Breakdown
- Stop the Traffic: Embracing a Sabbath Centric Life
- Tired? Take Time to Cease and Savor Delight
- You Prepare a Table Before Me
Photo by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash
About the Author
Barry Pearman has spent almost 30 years as a mental health support worker, community chaplain, and pastor, and has walked through depression himself. His training includes SoulCare Foundations under Dr Larry Crabb, a Bachelor of Applied Theology, spiritual direction training, and certificates in CBT interventions, pastoral therapy, and integrated mental health care. Turning the Page offers a grace-filled path to mental wholeness through faith and hope. Read Barry Pearman’s full background and story.
