Biblical Resources for Everyday Life
Christians often feel inept when they interact with someone struggling with unruly emotions or skewed thoughts or hurtful choices. We’re unsure how (or if) God addresses such troubles … so we back off and turn soulish issues over to the experts. God, however, encourages us to come alongside others in the midst of their struggles. Read in these posts how God equips us to offer practical help with wisdom and skill.
Projection
Sometimes we take the events going on inside our own heads and assume they’re also going on in the outside world. Naturally we then respond to “what’s going on”…even though it isn’t actually happening. That’s projection. For example, let’s say I’m angry. When we talk, if I project, I assume you’re the one who’s angry and start defending myself against “your” anger (the anger that never existed in the first place).
God makes reality visible. If we don’t pay attention to what He’s lit up then we’ll end up in the dark, tripping over life’s furniture.
Discernment moves past physical awareness to spiritual awareness and so distinguishes confusingly similar things. Discernment and counseling intertwine.