I live in a Bible Belt where many church goers are resistant to having a personal relationship with Jesus. Instead, I see that there can be a default to learning merely about God, or striving to do all the right things for Him, and that’s it. They’ve lost the love and in danger of becoming noise to the world, as 1 Corinthians 13 warns.

I used to get frustrated with this ‘robot living’ – ‘Spock-like’ pattern I observed until I realized …it’s a trauma response.

When I myself get stuck in my head, I realize that I have allowed stress to pull me into tasks, trying to do things in my own strength, and away from seeking God’s heart. Instead, I’ve closed off my heart to Him.

When we are unwilling to open our hearts to ALL God has for us, and instead defer to merely head knowledge or working harder, it points to an underlying fear.

We can often seek to protect ourselves from emotional pain, but one common and dangerous method of doing this is through intellectualization—living from the mind, avoiding the brokenness of the heart. While understanding is important, relying solely on intellect to shield us from our pain can leave deep heart wounds unhealed. God, in His Word, calls us to engage both our hearts and minds in our relationship with Him.

Biblical Example: Martha vs. Mary

A powerful example of this is found in Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary. Martha, caught up in the busyness of serving and the intellectual planning of daily life, was distracted from the heart connection with Jesus. Meanwhile, Mary chose to sit at His feet, fully engaging her heart and mind in His presence.

Martha’s approach led her to stress and frustration, while Mary, by focusing on her heart’s desire to be with Jesus, found rest, healing, and peace. Jesus lovingly corrected Martha, not for her service, but for her anxiety—reminding her that only one thing is needed: deep, heart-to-heart communion with Him.

The Danger of Intellectualizing Pain

Intellectualization is a defense mechanism many of us use to avoid emotional discomfort. Rather than confronting and healing from trauma, we focus on facts, logic, or tasks—convincing ourselves we’re “handling” things. This can lead to a disconnected relationship with God, as we miss out on His desire to meet us in our deepest places of vulnerability.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” While knowledge and understanding are essential, the Lord seeks a relationship with us that goes beyond the intellect. Trusting God with our hearts, and not just our minds, invites His healing into our deepest wounds.

Jesus Invites Us to Engage Our Hearts

Throughout the Bible, God calls us to fully engage our hearts in worship, prayer, and relationship with Him:

• Psalm 51:17 teaches that God desires a “broken and contrite heart,” promising He will not despise it.
• Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

God doesn’t desire that we run from our brokenness or intellectualize it away. He calls us to bring it to Him, allowing Him to soften our hearts and transform our wounds.

Practical Application: Bringing Our Hearts to Jesus

So, how can we move from our heads to our hearts?

1. Recognize when you’re intellectualizing. Be aware when you’re focusing solely on knowledge, logic, or distractions to avoid deeper emotional pain.
2. Invite Jesus into your emotions. In prayer, ask Jesus to meet you in the places of hurt. Allow yourself to feel and process what you’ve been avoiding, trusting Him to bring healing.
3. Meditate on God’s promises. Scripture is filled with God’s promises for healing and restoration. As you meditate on verses like Psalm 147:3 (“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”), allow the truth to sink into your heart, not just your mind.
4. Sit with Jesus. Like Mary, take time to sit at Jesus’ feet. Let Him speak to your heart and minister to your emotions. It’s in these quiet moments that we experience deep healing and transformation.

Listening Prayer Activation

Let’s practice listening prayer based on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Find a quiet space, close your eyes, and invite Jesus to join you. As you imagine the scene of Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, ask:

• “Jesus, what part of my heart have I been protecting by staying in my head?”
• “How are You inviting me to trust You with my emotional pain?”
• “What healing do You want to bring to my heart today?”

Allow Jesus to speak, minister, and heal as you listen in stillness.

If you find yourself struggling with intellectualization, it may be time to seek deeper healing and support in this journey. Feel free to reach out for a private session, where we can pray and process these places of avoidance together, inviting God to meet you in your heart. (See links below.)

Remember: God desires to heal your broken heart, not just inform your mind.

Merri Ellen Giesbrecht

Life Coach & Spiritual Director

Dig Deeper:

www.coachinginfreedom.com / www.merriellen.com