From God’s Heart

Unpacking the Gift of the Sensitive Life

God shows his Heart to us and through us in ways that can be unexpected...and intense.

Highly Sensitive People

The Oxford Dictionary 10th edition says that empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. But I define it a bit differently, to be more pertinent to burden bearing. Empathy is receptivity to the sensory and emotional experiences of another to the point that you feel what they are experiencing.

It’s easy to lose hope when no one understands what you’re going through. It’s even easier when you don’t understand yourself.

"God, what is wrong with me?” “These emotions seem to come from nowhere. They interrupt my day and make my life miserable.” “This makes no sense! Headaches hit and run. The doctor said my chest pains don't exist. He took my blood, took my money, patted me on the head and sent me home!” “Why do I need to avoid noisy crowds? I hate to shop! I’d rather just be alone.” “Why do I hurt when I'm around people? Why do I cry when I watch the news? Why am I so easily overwhelmed? Something is wrong with me God. Why can’t I just be normal?” Do your conversations with God sound like this? There may be a reason no one is telling you about!

Do You See the World from a Different Place?

The doctors have ruled out a physical problem. You’ve talked with the counselors. Perhaps even prayed for healing. Nothing! What if the problem isn’t a problem at all? What if it’s a gift? A precious God given ability that you were never warned about and as yet have no idea how to use? For some, the first time behind the wheel of a car can be terrifying. But after a while, with patient instruction, care and practice, driving becomes second nature. Consider this. Maybe you don’t need to be fixed. Maybe you’re not broken. Just different. You’re not dealing with a disease or an imbalance or a disorder. You don’t need treatment or healing. You need understanding and direction.

Begin to Hope Again!

You may be a natural burden bearer. You or someone you know may be wired to be highly sensitive—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. It isn't good or bad, it simply is. It’s the way you’re designed. If that's the case, there is definitely nothing wrong with you! If you are a natural burden bearer, you are highly sensitive, which means you experience life differently than most. Your nervous system draws in more data, meaning you sense and feel peoples' feelings, troubles, and confusions—even physical pain. You are also more likely to be more strongly affected by your environment than most; hence your need for quiet and reflection. Being a natural burden bearer means you are built to empathize with God, and share what He feels in much the same way you are able to share the feelings of other people. Once you understand this, you can move beyond coping. You can be who you’re designed to be…in joy…and move into your purpose and destiny.

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The Hope

Author Carol Brown has written extensively on these issues and more. Her books address the unique challenges that face people who are hard-wired for high sensitivity. She brings encouragement, fresh insight, and new hope for many who have struggled without knowing why.

Carol shares valuable information from a variety of sources, carefully gleaned and presented from a solidly biblical perspective. She shares practical wisdom from years of ministry and the crucible of her own personal experience. But even more importantly, she shares her heart. With clarity, poignancy, passion and humor, she unpacks the mysteries of spiritual sensitivity and lays out practical insights to help highly sensitive people understand their unique design and calling.

I want you to know that you are not crazy; you are different. You are not wired like most people, and God has a reason for making you that way.