Scholarly Article Review on Integration
Disappointment with God and Well-being: The Mediating Influence of
Relationship Quality and Dispositional Forgiveness by Strelan, P., Acton,
C., & Patrick, K.
In the above article, Strelan et al. (2009), “sought to explore the
relationship between disappointment with God and well-being, including
examining potential mediating factors” (Strelan et al., 2009, p. 204). They
set out to investigate the assumption that spirituality and religion are
associated with psychological well-being. Thus, there comes the question
“what happens when someone experiences a tragic event and becomes
disappointed with God?” (Strelan et al., 2009, p. 204). Also, the
assumption that “anger with and unforgiveness of God may be related to
decreased well-being, such as depression and anxiety” (Strelan et al.,
2009, p. 204).
The participants identified with a variety of Christian denominations in
Australia, with the largest group being Anglican at 48 percent. The
“questionnaires measured disappointment with God, spiritual maturity,
relationship commitment, dispositional forgiveness, psychological well-
being (i.e. depression, anxiety, and stress), and spiritual well-being”
(Strelan et al., 2009, p. 204).
Moreover, their findings reveal that; 1) “Most of the participants attributed
some degree of responsibility to God for tragic events in their lives.” 2) “In
general, those who felt disappointed with God were more likely to
experience depression and stress and less likely to experience spiritual
well-being.” 3) The mediating factors were partially “spiritual maturity and
disposition to forgive such that those who were mature and likely to
forgive experienced greater well-being even when they were disappointed
with God.” 4) Finally, “commitment to one’s relationship with God did not
significantly mediate” the relationship between these variables (Strelan et
al., 2009, p. 204).
Consequently, Strelan et al., (2009) maintain “that dispositional
forgiveness helps mediate the relationship between disappointment with
God and well-being” (Strelan et al., 2009, p. 2004). Thus, “it may be
helpful to provide those who do not forgive very easily a deeper
understanding of what it means to forgive as well as the psychological and
spiritual benefits that comes with forgiveness” (Strelan et al., 2009, p.
204). With this, they concluded by encouraging counselors/therapists to
consider the result of their study when counseling religious individuals
who are disappointed in God.
From the forgoing, it is evident that the functional, structural, and
relational aspects are interwoven. The symptoms of depression and stress
are obviously related to the way the clients viewed self, others, and the
world, and this in turn affected their relationship with God. Nichols (2017)
writes, “How I see myself influences how I live” (Nichols, 2017, p. 19). We
are created in the image of God (Genesis 1: 27, NIV). As relational beings,
we realize ourselves and our full potentials in the society/community, in
our relationship with others which embodies our relationship with God (1
John 4: 20-21, NIV). Thus, our spiritual self/nature cannot be divorced from
our psychological and social self/nature.
Sequel to this, Gordon (2018) emphasizes the need for “therapist
[counselors] to cultivate and maintain the virtue ofAintellectual
humilityAwith respect to spirituality in a counseling context” (Gordon,
2018, p. 279). According to Entwistle (2015), “Humility as an intellectual
virtue involves our recognition of our intellectual abilities and liabilities. It
allows us to receive corrections, feedback, or affirmation appropriately,
and to develop and exercise our abilities unencumbered by arrogance or
self-depression” (Entwistel, 2015, p. 100). It disposes us to recognize that,
“All truth is ultimately under God’s sovereignty” (Entwistle, 2015, p. 182).
Also, it reminds and points us to the fact that both psychology and
theology share a “mutual interest in understanding the ambiguities and
mysteries of human behavior, and healing human brokenness” (Entwistle,
2015, p. 57).
References
Entwistle, D., N. (2015).AIntegrative approaches to psychology and
Christianity: An introduction to ,,,,,,,,, worldview issues, philosophical
foundations, and models of integration (3rd Ed.). CASCADE AAAAAAAAAAA Books.
Gordon, E.C. (2018). Intellectual humility, spirituality, and
counseling.AJournal of Psychology and ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Theology, 46(4), 279-291.
Holy Bible. (2011).ANew International Version.ABiblica, Inc.
Nichols, K. (2017).AMasterpiece: Seeing yourself as God’s work of art
changes everything!,AAAAAAAAAA ALIVE Ministries.
Strelan, P., Acton, C., & Patrick, K. (2009). Disappointment with God and
well-being: The mediating AAAAAAA influence of relationship quality and
dispositional forgiveness.AJournal of Psychology and ,,,, Theology, 37(3),
204-207.
