How Unconscious Beliefs About God Affect Your Health: Understanding Cognitive Dissonance

As Christians, our beliefs about God should be a source of strength and stability in our lives. But what happens when there’s a gap between what we say we believe and what we truly feel deep down? This inner conflict is known as cognitive dissonance, and it can have a significant impact not only on our spiritual lives but also on our emotional and physical health.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how unconscious beliefs about God shape our view of the world, how cognitive dissonance can lead to confusion and anxiety, and what steps we can take to realign our faith with our health.

What is Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance occurs when our conscious beliefs don’t match our unconscious ones. For example, as Christians, we may declare that we trust in God’s will, but deep down, we may struggle with doubts about whether He really answers our prayers. These conflicting beliefs create an inner turmoil that can lead to emotional distress and physical symptoms.

As Dr. Tanya Paynter explains, when we aren’t fully aware of our unconscious beliefs, we often feel confused, anxious, and even guilty about our struggles. This disconnect between our stated beliefs and our true feelings can be especially harmful when it comes to our health.

The Health Impacts of Cognitive Dissonance

One of the most significant revelations in Dr. Paynter’s podcast episode is how cognitive dissonance can manifest in our bodies. When we experience spiritual or emotional unrest due to unresolved beliefs about God, it often leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. Over time, these emotional struggles can contribute to physical ailments such as:

• Chronic pain
• Increased cortisol levels (which can trigger inflammation)
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Autoimmune disorders
• Migraines

Dr. Paynter notes that a lot of this stress is linked to having an unstable spiritual foundation. If we don't understand who God is or feel secure in our identity in Him, we can be left feeling tossed about by the trials of life, which directly impacts our physical health.

Scientific Insights on Unconscious Beliefs

To illustrate the power of unconscious beliefs, Dr. Paynter references a 2008 study from the Perspectives on Psychological Science journal, which highlights how our brains develop unconscious beliefs through early life experiences. This process of absorbing beliefs from our surroundings often begins in infancy and continues throughout life. Whether we grow up in an environment filled with love or one marred by trauma, these experiences shape our understanding of the world on a subconscious level.

Interestingly, this research points out that our unconscious beliefs often guide our behavior and responses before our conscious mind even has time to react. This is why we sometimes act in ways that contradict what we think we believe—our unconscious mind is operating on autopilot, influenced by deeply ingrained beliefs that we may not even be aware of.

Aligning Our Beliefs: A Path to Healing

Dr. Paynter encourages us to take the time to examine what we truly believe about God. If we experience cognitive dissonance—saying one thing but feeling something else deep down—we need to confront those doubts honestly. She shares her personal journey of wrestling with her own doubts and learning to submit to God’s will rather than trying to bend God to her desires.

It’s only through this process of introspection and realignment that we can begin to experience peace, both spiritually and physically. When our beliefs about God and His role in our lives are clear, the emotional and physical stress that once plagued us begins to ease. Dr. Paynter shares that this can even lead to miraculous healing, as our reliance on God grows and we allow Him to guide our health decisions.

Practical Steps to Resolve Cognitive Dissonance

1. Examine your beliefs: Take time to reflect on your true beliefs about God. Do you trust in His will, or are there doubts you're avoiding?
2. Pray for guidance: Bring your struggles and doubts to God in prayer. Be honest with Him about where you feel uncertain.
3. Seek biblical truth: Ground your understanding of God in the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit for insight as you read His word.
4. Confess your doubts: Don’t be afraid to talk about your doubts with others, whether that’s a trusted friend, pastor, or in prayer. As Dr. Paynter emphasizes, God already knows your heart, and sharing your doubts is the first step to resolving them.
5. Trust God with your health: Before turning to medications or supplements, seek God's guidance on how to address physical symptoms. While medical treatments are valuable tools, our relationship with God should always come first.

Final Thoughts

Cognitive dissonance is a struggle that many Christians face, often without realizing it. But by taking the time to examine our unconscious beliefs, we can begin to bridge the gap between what we say we believe and what we truly feel. As we align our faith with our health, we can experience both emotional healing and physical restoration.

For more insights on how to integrate faith and health, listen to the full podcast episode, "Cognitive Dissonance in Faith: How Unconscious Beliefs Affect Your Spiritual and Physical Health", and subscribe for future episodes.