I've had the opportunity lately to be around some beautiful souls who are dealing very quietly with a variety of struggles. It hurts me to see that and I feel nearly compelled to nurture them. I wish we as a society felt more comfortable with living our struggles out loud. Yet, we who struggle risk harsh judgement and we feel we'd be crazy to share one whisper of our secrets and private battles. What we are choosing instead is to hurt alone and in seclusion. Slap that pretty face on. Grin and bear it. Hold it all together. Keep the hurt or shame or pain right behind the teeth of that pretty smile.
Misery. Played very well, right into the hands of our enemy. (I do not like him.) He'd not be any more effective at crippling people if he walked right up in our homes breaking legs and binding bodies. He loves secrets. He loves hurts. He loves false fronts. He loves seclusion. If you have a secret...and nearly ALL of us do...before you know it, the enemy will have that secret in his hands and beat you with it like it's a baseball bat.
What are we to do? Air our dirty laundry to everyone? Breathe a sigh of relief. That's not necessary. But you do need to be taking it to God every single second that it rolls through your head. If you are not sitting it at the feet of God, odds are, the enemy has a hold of it and he is tireless as he beats you down and ties you up.
Just a few lies the enemy may be telling you about your secret:
BIGGER FATTER DANGEROUS LIE:
Whatever situation you find yourself silently dealing with....it can be powerfully destructive. It can be bigger than you. It can be huge. It may look to you like there is no solution and no way out. BUT...it CANNOT be bigger than God. You don't have the one problem that is going to be too difficult for Him. Listen to this little tid-bit...pretty important part here: Nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. NOTHING! (Romans 8:37-39) His love is pure. His love is safe. His love will not fail you. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) You can trust Him.
Get to it...go tell God your secrets. Don't wait another single second because telling Him keeps Satan from being able to use them to hurt you more. Sometimes Satan will convince you to start worrying about that secret again and at that point...remind him that Jesus has all your secrets. While Jesus has them, they are His to deal with! You may have to remind Satan frequently at first...but as fast as your mouth can move, you can do it...again and again!
As we live day to day, we have to realize that everyone has junk. Everyone. Try really hard to extend some grace to someone today. If someone chews your head off down to your shoulders, maybe they've had a bad day and could stand a grace pass. Stay away from assumptions. Don't jump to conclusions. You never know what's going on behind closed doors. Instead, try to ask how people are, then stop and listen to their answer. Smile at someone. Pass out some hugs. Give away some grace passes. They don't cost you anything and you never know what it might mean to someone else.
Misery. Played very well, right into the hands of our enemy. (I do not like him.) He'd not be any more effective at crippling people if he walked right up in our homes breaking legs and binding bodies. He loves secrets. He loves hurts. He loves false fronts. He loves seclusion. If you have a secret...and nearly ALL of us do...before you know it, the enemy will have that secret in his hands and beat you with it like it's a baseball bat.
What are we to do? Air our dirty laundry to everyone? Breathe a sigh of relief. That's not necessary. But you do need to be taking it to God every single second that it rolls through your head. If you are not sitting it at the feet of God, odds are, the enemy has a hold of it and he is tireless as he beats you down and ties you up.
Just a few lies the enemy may be telling you about your secret:
- You should really be ashamed.
- People will never understand how you did that.
- Sure other people do bad things, but not that bad.
- You've already done it now, you might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
- You deserve it!
- Everyone around you does things they shouldn't, why don't you get to enjoy it too.
- As long as no one knows, it's okay.
- You are the only one who stands to be hurt so what does it matter to anyone else?
- They deserve the way you treat them.
- Don't be such a bother, no one cares what you feel like.
- One more time can't hurt.
- You need to look out for your self, if someone gets hurt, too bad.
- You are in too deep, there is no turning around now.
- If you were smarter, nicer, or prettier--they wouldn't have treated you like that.
BIGGER FATTER DANGEROUS LIE:
- The fact that you are where you are is your own fault. No need to even try to take this to God! How many times can He forgive you, pick you up, help you out? You aren't good enough to even ask for His help. It's too late. No way He can love you now. (LIE. LIE. LIE. Jesus died for you knowing you were a big fat mess without Him. He did it to show you His love for you. Romans 5:8)
Whatever situation you find yourself silently dealing with....it can be powerfully destructive. It can be bigger than you. It can be huge. It may look to you like there is no solution and no way out. BUT...it CANNOT be bigger than God. You don't have the one problem that is going to be too difficult for Him. Listen to this little tid-bit...pretty important part here: Nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. NOTHING! (Romans 8:37-39) His love is pure. His love is safe. His love will not fail you. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) You can trust Him.
Get to it...go tell God your secrets. Don't wait another single second because telling Him keeps Satan from being able to use them to hurt you more. Sometimes Satan will convince you to start worrying about that secret again and at that point...remind him that Jesus has all your secrets. While Jesus has them, they are His to deal with! You may have to remind Satan frequently at first...but as fast as your mouth can move, you can do it...again and again!
As we live day to day, we have to realize that everyone has junk. Everyone. Try really hard to extend some grace to someone today. If someone chews your head off down to your shoulders, maybe they've had a bad day and could stand a grace pass. Stay away from assumptions. Don't jump to conclusions. You never know what's going on behind closed doors. Instead, try to ask how people are, then stop and listen to their answer. Smile at someone. Pass out some hugs. Give away some grace passes. They don't cost you anything and you never know what it might mean to someone else.
