Monday, January 9, 2011

Jesus Soothes Hurts

To those you have punished, they add insult to injury; they scoff at the pain of those you have hurt. -- Psalm 69:26

A friend recently came home from a family affair wishing she hadn’t bothered to attend. Her bruised feelings were obvious to everyone -- except the person who had caused them.

Or maybe that person did know. Some people take great joy in reminding folks of who they once were. They feel power in talking down to others. They see themselves as superior when they look at the past sins of others.

It’s sad to think that some people get their own “self-worth” by putting others down. But they do. Our heads tell us to feel sorry for them. But our hearts ache at the injustice of it all.

I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t have something in their past they’d prefer to forget. Something they wish nobody knew. Something they wish no one would ever bring up again. But there’s always somebody determined to make sure that they, and everyone else, never forgets.

In my friend’s case, she was a wild child when she was younger. She caused her family a lot of grief. Of course, we won’t talk about the pain they caused her by always talking down to and about her. Funny thing about kids, especially as they become teenagers: They’ll pretty much try to live down to your opinion of them and they’ll do all they can to hide the pain of parental rejection by acting out and pretending it doesn’t exist. But that’s another topic for another day.

Some things never seem to change. People who are verbally abusive -- and don’t see it in themselves -- continue their ways. Fortunately, my friend changed the course of her life when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She has changed her ways. And she has come to value herself just as Jesus values her.

The Bible tells us to forgive and I know she tries. She maintains a relationship with someone who doesn’t deserve her. She makes sure her children know the family that, while rejecting their mother, has embraced them. It is hard and still she does what she knows is right.

God understands her pain. He knows how difficult this situation is and He strengthens her. Her friends rally around her, praying that she will feel His peace and that those who enjoy hurting her -- people she loves despite everything -- will one day come to know Jesus as she does.

Jesus changes everything and everyone. He died so that we could live. He gives hope to all of us in all things -- including painful relationships.

Friday, January 6, 2011

Let Go Of Past Sins

O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. -- Psalm 69:5

Have you ever stayed awake at night agonizing over something you really shouldn’t have done? Have you ever mentally beat yourself up again and again over something you wish you could change? Join the club. I think everybody has at some time or another.

The Apostle Paul once agonized because he knew what to do and yet he still did what he knew he wasn’t supposed to do. Aren’t we all the same? We are determined to hold our tongue and then someone pushes a button and away we go. Or we’re determined not to spend so much time watching television and we sink down onto our recliner and three hours later we’re still there.

Several years ago I agonized that I might have hurt a friend’s feelings. Sometimes I can be too blunt. I saw her a few days later and apologized. You know what? She didn’t even remember what I said. I’d been beating myself up over something that didn’t even matter.

She laughed it off and told me not to worry. Then she gave me some wonderful advice. She said to let things go and move on. Other people don’t remember like we think they do and they aren’t as sensitive as we think they are. I’m not always sure about that (my feelings do get bruised sometimes) but I do agree with letting it go. We can’t undo what’s done. We can apologize if we should, make restitution if we can, and then move on and try to do better next time.

That’s how we should be with God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows every one of our sins, including the sins we aren’t even aware of. When we do sin, it’s best to confess and ask His forgiveness. Do what we can to rectify any consequences, then move on. Let it go. Put it behind us just as God puts our sin behind Him when He forgives us.

God doesn’t want us to keep beating ourselves up over past sin that we can’t undo. That kind of mental futility just keeps us mired in the past instead of moving us forward toward the future He has planned for us. God wants to forgive us. He wants to restore us. But we have to want that too.

That means we have to forgive ourselves. That could be the hardest task we face, especially when our sin is something we knew not to do and did anyway. But we have to forgive ourselves or we’ll never get beyond it. We have to let go so we can create a new path, a new way of living for God.

So give your past to God. Ask for His forgiveness and then let it go. Leave it at the cross. Let the blood of Jesus wash it away. Then pick yourself up and walk toward the light. God has something beautiful planned for you.

Friday, August 13, 2010

God Saves Us From Enemies

"Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble."

-- Psalm 69:17

Did you know that Psalm 69 is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament? I didn't either until I read my trusty Bible footnotes. I'm not surprised. In this psalm, David cries out to God for help. Jesus quoted from Psalm 69. So did Paul.

I love this psalm because it reminds me of a child crying out to her Father, her Yahweh, for help. Haven't we all been there at some point in our lives? Sometimes it is illness that brings us to our knees in pain and anguish. Sometimes it is loss. Other times it is the lies and deceit of those who would destroy us to protect themselves. The cause doesn't matter. We are hurting and we want God to fix it and place His soothing hands on our lives.

Sometimes the most bitter rejection comes from people who claim to bask in His light but who really live in darkness. They use lies to cover themselves, throwing out scripture as if it would make it all okay. It doesn't, of course. God knows our hearts. We can't hide anything from Him. I am thankful for that. I know He sees me, He searches my soul, He knows my heart's love for Him. And He knows the deceit of others who seek to destroy in order to build themselves up.

No matter the voices that cast down on me, I am strengthened by His Presence. His healing light surrounds me, providing protection from hurtful words. His love lifts my broken spirit up again and prepares me for another day. He shields me with arms stronger than the might of any human. He saves me. Again and again. He saves me.