OVERCOMING PAST HURT Most of the unpleasant things that happen to us are like bruises or minor scrapes to our spirits. Like minor injuries to our bodies that only leave a mark or hurt for a short while, those hurtful incidents may temporarily make us “black” with negative thoughts or “blue” with discouragement but are usually forgotten fairly quickly. At some time or another, however, many of us experience deep wounds to our spirits. How can we be healed of those? When we suffer a serious physical injury, we consult a physician who can properly tend to it. We have the wound cleansed and dressed, and sometimes have it checked regularly to make sure it’s healing properly. Even then it may take some time to heal. This is an illustration of how our inner wounds can heal with faith, prayer, and proper care. But if we don’t allow them to be cleansed and heal in the proper way, if we try to hide our wounds, they can become infected with bitterness and resentment that can poison our whole being. Bitterness doesn’t usually develop into a serious problem immediately; it festers and grows over time, like an infection in a wound, quietly destroying healthy areas it comes in contact with, if it’s not purged from the body. The Bible teaches that we should empty our hearts of things that bother us: “Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many.” Past circumstances do not have to dictate your present outlook, because God has made a way for you to overcome the negative in your life. In fact, He intends for you to! “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In other words, as we immerse ourselves in Jesus and His Word and learn to do things His way, old things will pass away and everything will become new. Some of our problems may indeed be the result of things that happened in our past. We are all products of our environment to some extent; we have been influenced positively in some respects and negatively in others. No one in this world has had only positive experiences, but the negative ones don’t have to control or permanently influence us emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The Christian life is all about overcoming obstacles, rising above our circumstances, and not letting things get us down. It’s about letting Jesus resolve and override problems by the renewing and transforming of our mind. God puts the responsibility on each of us for how we react to whatever situations we find ourselves in. He has given us free will and free choice, and He is constantly asking us to make the right decisions and to take the right steps. When we do, He is right there to see us through. According to God’s Word, trials are designed to strengthen us. If your life were problem free, you might never build the strength of character that comes from fighting to overcome problems. You also probably wouldn’t be able to relate to or have compassion on others who have gone through similar things. You might miss the beautiful transformation that takes place when you discover that you really need Jesus in your life. You might never experience the thrill of Him coming through for you and equipping you to carry on. Jesus wants “your joy to be full.” The secret to that joy lies in forgiving those who have wronged you, letting go of bitterness and resentment, and forgetting the past. It is possible for you to overcome! Psalm 32:5 NIV - Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Matthew 6:12-15 NIV - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Luke 17:3 NIV - So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.”
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:22:15 +0000
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