Some parts of me have died, and some dark corners or memories have grown deep roots, becoming less frequent reminders but more permanent house guests.
If I could draw them, they might look like heavy suitcases. They feel like weights. I’m not sure what’s in all of them, but I know they’re there.
So what is the fear in letting them go? Maybe it’s that I don’t know where I’d let them go to. It doesn’t seem like they’ll float away into space. They’re like dead body parts living in my house, and I want to be free, now and always.
We get tempted to think we must keep all accounts of a negative past and add them to the collection. We get tempted to think they are part of us, that they define us and that they’re our life.
They are not.
Jesus Goes Into the Dark Places with Us
Once a man named Jairus asked Jesus to come to his home because his 12-year-old daughter was dying. Before they could get there, a messenger arrived with devastating news: It was no use; the girl had already died. Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” (Luke 8:50)
When Jesus arrived at the house, he wouldn’t let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John and James and the girl’s parents. He told the weepers and wailers to exit. He told the child to get up, and her life returned.
This made me think about the times we come to Jesus with a request for healing.
We may think there are some memories too dark/long ago/packed away for Jesus to find. We may feel like we’re too far down a wrong path and that Jesus wouldn’t go there. We might actually look for help, but them someone runs up with the big news that there’s no hope.
So what’s living in us that tells us these lies?
Jesus says to have faith and be healed. Like Jairus, we must ask Him to come to our house. We must tell the wailers, weepers, guilt keepers and naysayers to exit. We need more of Him and less of us. It’s time to get up; for He has given us new life.
Jesus raises the dead.
He does heal, and I was just thinking about how it is OK to enjoy the rest we find in our salvation. Sometimes it can seem like we’re tempted, right after being delivered from something difficult, to find a new hardship in which to “dwell.” Don’t give in to the temptation! There’s every reason to rejoice and take in the peace we have in life, at any time it’s being experienced. Not to be so content that we forget we need God; but he’s given us wisdom that we don’t need to learn from making mistakes. Salvation is wonderful, and God’s peace is extra special. Thank you Lord!
His grace is sufficient and that’s what I pray for everyday! Blessed be the God of our salvation who dailt loaded us with benefits…..
@David 1, I agree that God’s peace is extra special. We might not always think we can feel that perfect peace, especially during hardship, but it’s a blessing to know it’s always there.
@David 2, how great when we know and trust that His grace is sufficient. When we run from our “pain,” we usually run into more/other harmful situations… running from the peace of God.
Realy thank your Messages GOD is realy blessing me
This post reminds me of one of the first books I read when I became a Christian ten year ago. In the book, “Every Woman’s Battle”, the author speaks about starving bad habits. I interpret that to mean also mean any negative thoughts about the past. We cannot feed them even a little bit, because they will linger, fester, and continue to pop back up time after time. The past is gone, and you are indeed a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Excellent reminder Monica… thank you 🙂