The video is here.
There is a belief in most of our hearts that if we are God’s kids, nothing bad will happen to us. It might be more realistic and Biblical to suggest that the Holy Spirit will lead us through a wilderness where lots of exciting things will happen. The key to spiritual maturity is learning how to recover from the pain and disappointment of a dream that crashed.
I am not a victim – The first message to our hearts in a setback is that events have overtaken us and we are out of control. The reality is that God is never the author of evil, but he is the Redeemer of our circumstances. It’s hard to experience resurrection without death. That cycle is part of our life in Christ.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 NIV
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24 NIV
When we experience wounding, abuse, persecution, or financial loss, it feels like the world is throwing us overboard. We can’t see our future. We feel hopeless, abandoned, unloved, defeated and passive. Our personal resurrection starts when we admit that we are not victims at the mercy of circumstances or other people… not because we are so powerful, but because the Jesus in us keeps floating to the top! The heart motive for our forgiveness is never more complicated than, “Jesus first forgave me.”
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:25-26 NASU
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 NIV
Unhealed people constantly refer to the victimization of the past. Healed people talk about who they are now and where they are going in the future. It doesn’t mean that the past is forgotten, but it’s not where our identity, power, strength or motivation come from, and our failures don’t define us. Healthy people have a difficult past too. The difference is that they have discovered why their hardship made them stronger.
The seed in the ground – Most setbacks have a season of sorting through the pain, the questions and the circumstances. The disappointment and the emotions are real, and suck, and we shouldn’t pretend to be healed when we’re not. Our heart has to have time to find a reason to resurrect; time to trade the lies surrounding the events for the real truth of our future. Our heart needs a safe place to be vulnerable and honest, while simultaneously being loved and reminded of the truth. Jesus wasn’t resurrected for 3 days. The surgery happens while were in the ground feeling hopeless. We have to trust a loving Father to accomplish what we cannot… resurrection!
Surrender – We’re healed when we really surrender our hearts to the idea that we will be raised up to something greater, that good will come of our experience with death. We raise our hands in surrender to Jesus, not our circumstances.
Brokenness – All who have experienced these cycles of death and resurrection carry a certain reverence and humility before God. Everyone around them can sense the depth in their heart and the wisdom of their words. They carry a new empathy for people without protecting them from their own path. They are tender as a lamb, yet courageous as a lion. They have already tasted death and they are not afraid.
Initiative – The final step of resurrection is that we dream again and get back to work making that dream come true. Being part of Jesus’ Kingdom is the realization of who He is, “King of kings and Lord of Lord’s” and who we are! It is our destiny to find the land with our name on it, and possess it. There is warfare involved.
I witnessed a prophetic exchange yesterday. It’s a conversation that we all have in our own hearts. It’s so instructive in its original form that I’m just quoting. The context is racism in America and the resulting victimization.
Comment – Who has nursed the wound that the healing can begin? Who has even tried to tend to the brokenness of a people?
Response – Nurse your wounds? Cmon, how old are you? You are in for a long, hard, miserable life if you expect someone to nurse your wounds in order for you to heal, forgive and move on with your life. I’m not saying issues shouldn’t be addressed, but your expectations are classic victim mentality. The first step of forgiveness and letting go of bitterness is realizing that nobody owes you anything, not even an apology. It’s not easy, but it’s not about the other side, it’s about not giving away your power to someone else. Healing comes from the Father and we are the only one that can stop it.
This truth has a sound and some lyrics that will help your heart experience this freedom.
