December 2017
springboard of ministry for the future . Not only can the hurts be overcome , they can be a means of ministering to others for their good and God ' s glory . Only God could do something like that !
The following principles can transform your life as they form God ' s path to bring deliverance and usefulness , even in the midst of great pain . You cannot take these steps on your own . They are only possible through God ' s enabling grace which He gladly gives as we humbly cry out to Him .
1 . Recognize and admit your own sin willing to believe that God is bigger than your problem and can work it out for your good and His glory ?
3 . Forgive release the debt
If your bitterness has a face behind it , you will need to take the step of unconditionally forgiving the one who has offended you . There is no other way to remove the harbored hurt .
“ Admit my sin ?! Don ' t you know it was the other person who sinned against me ? If anyone needs to admit their sin , it ' s them !”
You are right , they do . However , your healing does not depend on their response . You cannot change the offensive person or the hurtful situation ; but you can , by the grace of God , change your attitude . If in the midst of being hurt you have become bitter , angry , resentful , retaliatory , or critical , you have sinned . You can hold onto this all the while shouting words of self-justification and never find relief . Not only will you continue to suffer the results of bitterness , you will increase your burden with the guilt that comes whenever you cover and hide your sin . You will do nothing more than add to your pain . Instead , you could turn to the Lord in genuine humility and cry out for His cleansing .
2 . Embrace God ' s sovereignty
At some point you must release your rights over the situation , accept the circumstance , and embrace the fact that God has the right to do whatever He desires in your life .
If , in the economy of God , He desired to allow such a hurtful experience , then He had also promised grace to survive ... and to thrive . He is big enough to bring purpose in the midst of pain .
How are your fists ... still clenched ? Are you
Paul tells us in First Corinthians 13:5 that genuine love “ does not take into account a wrong suffered .” Here Paul uses an accounting term describing a merchant who keeps tally of what each customer owes him . He keeps these records because he fully intends to collect payment .
Many of us keep a ledger-book in our hearts . When someone hurts us , we enter their name in our ledger . We think they should not have treated us as they did ( and we may be right ), so we hold them accountable . “ They owe me ,” we reason , “ and I will make them pay .” Then we set out to exact payment .
But listen to what God has to say about this practice . “ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone ... never take your own revenge , beloved , but leave room for the wrath of God , for it is written ,
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