The first person I pitched this name to was my mother. She doesn’t think as I think, nor does she usually like what I like, which made her a perfect critic of the name. She explained to me how the name “anguishedsoul.com” was only going to draw a depressed, sad, and gloomy audience. It’s not that those experiencing such feelings aren’t welcome but they are not the target audience. I had to walk her through why I chose this name, in particular the word “anguish”, before she really understood who my target audience was. This is what I said:
I started with a verse: 2 Corinthians 2:4: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” Paul here is writing a letter to the church at Corinth discussing a few different matters. Take notice as to why he is writing this letter: “out of much affliction and anguish of heart”. Therefore it is because of Paul’s anguish that we have this entire book in the Bible. Let’s take this one step further. Why is Paul experiencing anguish? “That ye might know the love which I have…” So, get this, the reason for his anguish is because of his abundant love toward the church at Corinth.
So why Anguished Soul? Due to my love for Christ and His body, I have examined the church in America today to find one overwhelming state of soul piercing me: Anguish. Anguish for the ⅔ of youth that leave the church when they graduate. Anguish for the 88% of people in America who don’t read their Bible daily. Anguish for the families around me with unsaved children who are content to spend more time watching the newest Marvel movie rather than spending time on their knees for those same children who would go to hell if they died that day. Above all, anguish for my savior, Jesus Christ, who died a horrific death and rose again that these same people might have an opportunity to live a life in surrender and dependence to Him. “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…” (Rev 5:12) And yet, the average “Christian” in America can’t seem to give him even 15 minutes in the morning, let alone their entire lives.
My goal? To write “not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.” I desire change. Growth. Conversions. Revival. I write because I am led by God to do my part. It is not my desire to arouse more feelings and confusion in the heart of my readers but rather an intentional desire to seek the living God. To seek Him on their knees to begin a revival in their hearts. To seek Him, not for the benefits, but for a relationship. I know if this happens, then, as fire does, revival will spread. I pray that each article, post, and whatever is to come of this site leads to that one goal.