Understanding and Overcoming Hurt Hurt is a universal experience, but its impact runs deep—especially when it festers into bitterness. To find freedom, we must understand how hurt works and how God’s grace can lead us to healing. The Nature of Hurt and Bitterness Hurt is proportional to intimacy. The closer the relationship, the deeper the...
A little girl was attempting to pray a portion of the model prayer. She said, “And forgive us of our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.” She got a bit mixed up over the word trespasses but her version has some validity. When people put “trash in our baskets,”...
Seeking justice when you are wronged is entirely appropriate. But often, your offender will not make amends. So what should be done in regards to those who lie to you, rip you off, and wrong you? To “forgive” is to release a debt. This is a judicial act between you and God. You should pray...
I heard of a man who was bitten by a rabid dog. The attending doctor told him that rabies was not only incurable, it was also fatal. The physician recommended that the dying man get his house in order. Both shocked and silent, the patient just sat there. At length, the doomed man requested a...
Stop making what someone did TO you bigger than what Jesus did FOR you. We must learn to re-size our experiences. Instead of obsessing on the wrongs done to us, we must dwell on what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Yes, earthly injustices sting, but viewing them in light of eternity shows us that they are really...
Rehearsing your hurts cultivates bitterness. Rehearsing negative experiences cultivates a critical spirit. Obsessing over negativity breeds cynicism. But rehearsing your blessings will cultivate a grateful heart. The importance of your meditations and conversations cannot be overstated. Your mind and your mouth affect you and those around you in profound ways. Your thoughts, or meditations, define...