It’s hard to know when you aren’t well. I think many of us are pretty good at being highly functional, and when cracks surface, we’d rather just patch them over and move on. But sometimes, excavating is needed, as that patch wears away only to reveal greater problems underneath. I’m grateful that the role of the Holy Spirit is not merely to patch our souls. He wants that we are whole, and yet what we fear is that somehow we will be left vulnerable to our own shame. The fact is, until I see what’s wrong with me, the less I know of the graciousness of God. Because what’s wrong will not condemn me (no matter how much the enemy wants for me to believe otherwise). Instead, the Spirit of God says, “Come.” And I must trust that this is the best resolution of all.

I think many outside the Christian faith would find the idea of spirituality admirable, even desirable. It has this idea of transcending reality, and I think most would agree that reality isn't often what it should be - brokenness, pain, violence, etc. The problem is, even Christians would say that the spiritual life is elusive, and yet we have the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, to magnify the saving work of Christ in our lives (Eph 3:16-21), reminding us of the victory that is ours and a future hope to come. Consequently, we are well equipped to live for an eternity beyond this life.  The truth is, we don't feel victorious everyday. We struggle outright with sin, and with ourselves. And we crave a spirituality that transcends all of that. But the Christian faith is described as something we strive for (Heb 4:11), a race (1 Cor 9:24), and a fight (2 Tim 4:7). In other words, the spiritual life is one that is continuous, and not only that, it is met with resistance such that it won't come easily. 

I think a realistic view of sin gives us a better idea for how we are to view the Christian life, and our salvation. Spirituality, then, becomes less of this idealized, often longed for state, and rather one that sees us struggling to live holy lives in a depraved world, knowing that sin has no final victory over us (Romans 6:5-11).