Gospel Life Learning | Faith and Soul Care Podcast: What is the Soul? Greek Word for Soul | What Is Soul Care?

What is the Soul?

(Podcast, Video, and Transcript for this topic is found within this blogpost.)

[Readable Transcript Below this Audio:]

What is the Soul?

Today we're diving into this topic: What is the soul? But first, hold on—I have some major announcements. Let's move to that briefly, and then I will get right back to the topic.

Announcements and Updates

Hey friends, I have some exciting updates for you! First, just a quick heads-up: my podcast will be getting a new name soon. But don't worry—if you're an established reader or listener, nothing is changing about the heart of what I share.

Next, I have something special to share! The new prayer and reflection journal that I designed is now available. If you've read the book Closer to God: Simple Methods Starting Today, the journal was designed to help you put those teachings into practice—deepening your prayer life, strengthening your faith, and giving you a place to write down where you're doing well, where you're struggling, and where you sense God is working. It helps you stay grounded in truth each day. (Links to both the book and journal are below this post with other resources.)

To make it easy for you to try it, I'm offering a free downloadable week of the journal so you can see how it impacts your prayer life and your overall sense of purpose while using it.

If you're already on the email list, you will be getting a copy of the journal pages sent to you this week in your email. If you are not on the email list, then go to SherryElaine.com or GospelLifeLearning.com, click the tab for free resources, and sign up on the form there.

And now for some really big news! Coming later this year, in Fall of 2025, I’m going to be launching online Women's Connection Cohorts. This is going to be a space where we can gather, learn, and grow together in small, purposeful groups.

These groups will be hosted online through Zoom, and there'll be a time of encouragement, deep discussion, and faith-based personal growth. So if you're wanting to keep close to God and also live with more purpose—less affected by stress and with a clearer sense of purpose—then this will be something to be a part of.

We will be starting with limited openings as we run the first round. So, if you want to be the first to know when sign-ups begin, head over to SherryElaine.com, click on the Cohorts tab, and sign up for the notification list. You’ve got to be on that list to be notified!

I’m so looking forward to sharing these resources and opportunities with you. Stay connected, and let's keep growing together.

Now, back to topic: What is our soul?

We will start by looking at the Greek word for “soul” in the New Testament. Like we often do, we’re starting with the Greek—what does it mean when Scripture references the soul?

The Greek word used most often in the New Testament for soul is psuche (pronounced “soo-kay”). You might recognize it when you see it— (p-s-u-c-h-e)—as it is the root of our English words like psychology and psyche.

The word psuche or soul points to our inner life—our thoughts, emotions, motivations, wants, and desires.

In John 12, Jesus says, "My soul is troubled," expressing inner turmoil. The psuche is the part of us that experiences joy, sorrow, turmoil, and everything in between. It’s also the place where our relationship with God is lived out most personally and most deeply. The soul—the psuche—wrestles with these questions of hope, confidence, trust, meaning, purpose, and connection with God.

Understanding psuche also involves recognizing how the soul interacts with our body and spirit. The Bible often distinguishes between these three aspects of humanity: body, soul, and spirit.

For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul encourages us to take care of these three things—our body, spirit, and soul—in preparation for Jesus. The soul seems to serve as a bridge between our physical body and our spiritual spirit. It's where our earthly experiences and our eternal identity meet.

This is why caring for your soul is so vital. It's where the battle for your thoughts, faith, and emotions takes place.

Let’s not forget that the biblical perspective on the soul is that it is eternally valuable. As we see in Matthew 16, Jesus emphasized that gaining the whole world would be meaningless if it cost your soul.

Your soul is eternal—created to be in relationship with God. This truth helps us prioritize what really matters. Material wealth, status, and worldly accomplishments are fleeting. But the state of your soul and your relationship with Christ has eternal significance.

So, we know now—the soul is so precious and valuable. But how do we care for it? How do we nurture it?

Here are three biblical principles that help us align our psuche—our soul—with God’s purposes:

Resting in God
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus invites us:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Resting in Jesus means surrendering our burdens, trusting Him fully, and finding peace in His presence. I mentioned earlier the women's connection cohorts that will be forming soon. This is something we’re going to go through together—how do we truly rest in God, and what daily practices can we do to ensure that we are giving our burdens over to Him fully?
If that’s something you’d like to dive deeper into, then make sure you’re on the email notification list at sherryelaine.com.

Intentionally Renewing Your Mind
Romans 12:2 teaches us:
“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
Our psuche—our soul—is deeply impacted by the thoughts we dwell on.
Meditating on Scripture and focusing on God’s truth reshapes our inner life—when we do so with intentionality. In the prayer journal that’s just now come out, there’s a space for you to weekly write your thoughts and concerns and start the process of renewing them with God’s truths. Again, this will be one of the topics and practices that we will also go into deeper when the connection cohorts start later this year.

Guarding Your Heart
Proverbs 4:23 says:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Protecting your soul involves being mindful of what is influencing you—your relationships, your media consumption, your daily habits. What are you allowing to be poured into your soul? Because it’s from that place where your actions and responses flow out to others. These are deep topics, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow in a small online connection group soon, later this year.

In Closing Thoughts

Let’s turn our eyes to Jesus, who is called the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls—that’s from 1 Peter 2:25. That verse reminds us of His ongoing attention and care for us—for our inner lives. He cares deeply about it. He laid down His life to redeem us—specifically to redeem our souls. This demonstrates the immense value He places on our souls. As we grow closer to His Spirit, our soul finds true rest and purpose.

As we reflect on this word soul—or the Greek word psuchē—let's remember its depth and significance: Your soul is not just a part of you, it IS you. It’s the essence of who you are. It’s the center of your relationship with God, and it’s the place where eternal truths grow and transform you.In a world that often focuses on everything external, scripture calls us to tend to our souls with care and intentionality.

Thank you for joining in today. If this post or this episode has blessed you, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast or to the email notification list so you don’t miss the next topic.

Until then, may your soul find rest and delight in the presence of Jesus.

View or share the video of this post: