What does it mean when we hear, "The kingdom is within"? These four words hold great meaning, yet they are so often overlooked in practice. For many of us, the stories we tell ourselves about God have been shaped by childhood teachings, religious experiences, and personal beliefs passed down through generations. We are often taught, or observe others, looking upward or outward for answers because there is a deep distrust in the "human flesh". At a deep level, this constant search "outside" for answers can do us a disservice in many ways. But what if the answers are much closer, right here within us? Why did Jesus describe the Kingdom of Heaven as a mustard seed to be planted "in your own field"?
The Kingdom we often think of as a faraway, mystical place, may not be so far away after all. When we think about God, we tend to envision something all-knowing and yet distant while watching over us. Western Christianity often claims to believe in the "indwelling spirit" while still searching the heavens to connect with God. Spiritual seekers go on pilgrimages, search for the next spiritual high, convention, retreat or miracle. Nothing is inherently wrong with those individual activities but God doesn't only dwell there- in the search "out there". He doesn't live in the church or the heavens, only able to be accessed by a specific pastor, channel, pope, guru, teacher, or spiritual practice. These can be paths but the most direct path is the understanding that you hold the kingdom of God within your very being. You hold the seed in your vessel.
The Kingdom of God isn't a place to go to- it's something we are invited to embody.
The Stories We Tell
We have all crafted stories about our relationship with God, and these stories can either empower or limit us. Many of these stories are born of fear. We create mental barriers that keep us feeling separate from the very source of love we seek. We create separation through guilt and shame and fear.
What if the story could be rewritten? We can start by reframing our relationship with God, not as something to fear or even attain somehow by our own strivings, but as something to REMEMBER. It is in the quiet knowing within, the space in your being where stillness resides. It is why we are told to, "Be still and know that I am God."
Accessing the Kingdom
To realize the "Kingdom within," we need to quiet the noise of the world. In my practice, I often help clients through guided meditation or hypnosis to quiet down the chattering mind, the part that whispers messages of separation and judgment. In that deep state of clarity, they can reconnect to the truth that has always been there- our inherent worth and God's presence within.
This process mirrors how I often describe spiritual growth. It is less about the constant seeking and searching which reinforces the message that something is always missing, that to know God and connect with God you must do "fill in any criteria or practice here". The stories we tell ourselves about God being distant are just that- stories. God is as distant as we perceive that distance to be. When we peel away the societal conditioning and personal doubt, we discover that God has been with us all along, residing in the quietest places and moments of our lives.
The Kingdom Within
When we change our story about God, we change our story about ourselves as well. The kingdom within teaches us that we are never separate from God.
The next time you feel the weight of the world and a feeling of disconnection, pause. Place your hand over your diaphragm, right in the center of your body. Breathe in deeply and remind yourself, "The Kingdom is within me." You are never alone. You are never separate. In fact, you are a living and breathing expression of God.
Rewriting Your Story
As you reflect on the stories you have told yourself about God, can you point to the ones that have created a feeling of separation or distance? Remember you have the ability to rewrite that story. The kingdom within means God is always there waiting to be seen, felt, heard. In every breath, in every moment, you are the expression of God. The kingdom is not something you need to find, like a holy grail- It is already yours.
Warmly,
Jennifer Ferrante, CHt.
Ferrante Family Wellness
Comments