Free to Think Different – for Christian Highly Sensitive People

Back when the Roman government was feeding frightened people to the lions for the entertainment of the masses, the Apostle Paul wrote the following instructions. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise-worthy — meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). The amplified Bible adds the descriptive phrase, “. . . fix your mind on them.”

These words were written to all believers, but I find them particularly important for the highly sensitive person. However, they’re not easy to implement. In fact, we highly sensitive people can find it extra challenging to follow these instructions.

Why It’s Hard

There are at least two reasons why this can be so difficult for us. First, I find that many highly sensitive people are idealists and react strongly to violations of Right. I think idealists carry a faint echo of Eden deep within them. It’s like some subconscious memory of when creation was simply Good, as God designed it to be, before the entrance of The Great Distortion (Genesis 3) that twisted all the world’s systems. With a sense of Rightness so clear in us, whatever is Wrong affects us powerfully.

Add to that the fact that we feel everything deeply, and it quickly becomes clear why we might get stuck focusing on what is wrong rather than on what is right. Pile onto that a somewhat obsessive-style mind, which many highly sensitive people have, and the problem compounds still more.

Beyond the sheer difficulty of focusing on the lovely, there are some seemingly valid arguments against following the Apostle Paul’s instructions. Let’s take a look at them.

Objection #1: Terrible things are happening . . .

. . . (and I need to do something about it, I need to pray, I need to get the word out, etc.)

In this world there is no lack of Wrong or Unjust or Dissonant on which to focus. Never has been. Never will be. There wasn’t back in the Apostle Paul’s day (think Nero for President).

The truth is that effective intercessory prayer does not require a focus on what’s wrong. For more on this concept, I highly recommend Beni Johnson’s heart-changing book The Happy Intercessor. I will be writing about intercessory prayer for the highly sensitive person in the future, but it won’t be redundant to Beni’s teachings. So do read her book and make your heart happy.

Objection #2: It’s immoral to be joyful . . .

. . . (peaceful, happy, etc.) when so many bad things are happening around us.

The fruits of the spirit include joy and peace (Galatians 5:22-23). To live apart from these is to resist the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and to distance ourselves from the Kingdom of God. The very Kingdom of God is defined by these things. The scriptures say, “For the Kingdom of God is a matter of . . . righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

The truth is that as highly sensitive people, we affect the earth more deeply by living in this lighthearted place of Holy Spirit righteousness, peace, and joy than we ever will by being upset about Wrong. As a very highly sensitive person, I can tell you that whatever emotional substance you carry in your heart wafts out of you and affects the world around you.

Objection #3: People are suffering . . .

. . . (disaster victims, distant starving people, persecuted Christians, etc.) and I need to bear with them.

I’m not talking to selfish, unfeeling people here. I’m talking to highly sensitive people who tend to feel far more than they can bear. Yes, in Romans 12:15 we are encouraged to cry with those who cry and rejoice with those who rejoice (not hard for us emotional sensitives), but those are interpersonal instructions that apply to our relationships.

When we hear about those outside our circle of relationship who are suffering, we are asked to wisely take action: pray (Ephesians 6:18-20), give (Acts 11:29), go (Acts 11:30), all as led by the Spirit.

I can’t think of any time in scripture when we are instructed to feel bad for, be depressed about, or carry the pain of someone else.

The fact is if you start owning someone else’s pain, trauma, or disaster, you cease to be able to manage your own life and call.

Objection #4: I need to be aware . . .

. . . of what’s happening in the world.

I know this is a cherished cultural value, but really, how healthy is this for a highly sensitive person who feels everything deeply? Personally, I have all I can do to stay uncrushed by the difficulties happening in my small realm of relationship and community.

Christians will take this value and spiritualize it and say, “So I can pray.” Over the years I’ve known lots of Christian highly sensitive people who have carried this value, and it’s rarely been harmonious with the Kingdom of God in their lives. On the other hand, I know people God has given this assignment to and equipped for the task — those who start their day with their coffee, newspapers, and prayer. It feels harmonious when they do it and they don’t carry a dissonance or a crushing from it.

I can’t say it enough: follow the Spirit. The Holy Spirit customizes your call especially for you and and gives you the extras you need to fulfill that call. He won’t give you what you need to fulfill someone else’s call. His burden is easy and His yoke is light (Matthew 11:30).

Objection #5: It’s my responsibility as a citizen . . .

. . . to be current on the issues (therefore I have to watch the news, be immersed in politics, etc.)

This is where the diverse gifts and activities of the members of the Body of Christ kick in (I Corinthians 12:4-6). Do you know anyone you respect who is called by God to stay up on current affairs and politics? Who carries it without wear or distress? Who can live in the awareness of it all with peace and without running around screaming, “The sky is falling!!!” Why don’t you just get a briefing from them when it’s time to do something like vote? A wise person will be able to communicate both sides of any argument. Then make your decisions according to your values, and go vote. If you don’t know anyone like that, put the word out among your friends and find someone. They’re out there. They’re probably more common than we are.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that, as a highly sensitive person, you may clearly sense what is Wrong, but you’re not meant to focus your senses, your thinking, or your feeling on those things.

Focusing on Wrong wreaks havoc on your highly sensitive body. It creates dissonant frequencies that are destructive and unpleasant – to your body, your environment, and the people around you. Sooner or later, it will create relationship issues, disease, illness, system malfunction, and premature death.

Highly sensitive people are most often designed to revel in the lightness of God’s Kingdom and to harmonize with unspeakable peace, giddy joy, and a passionate love for God. For most of us, this takes a lot of healing, lifestyle adjustment, and a retooling of our values. All, of course, choreographed by the Holy Spirit.

It’s a journey. It’s hard work and it’s time consuming. But it’s the Kingdom of God. And it leads to really good places in Christ.

Blessings!

Gail Ruth