Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of women walk through incredible pain. Friends whom I have the blessing of knowing, online acquaintances, and women I’ve never met all sharing their stories of pain. Each situation is different. Each story heartbreaking. Not one story is alike and yet they all have one thing in common: they are broken.
And so am I.
For years I’ve struggled to get over the pain, anger, and heartbreak of things that have been done or said to me. You would be amazed at what people can say when they hide behind a computer screen.
I’ve allowed unforgiveness to build strongholds in my mind. I’ve allowed my heart to grow hard and have built up “protective” walls so that no one could hurt me like that again. At times, I even caught myself praying my fair share of David’s “get my enemy” prayers.
And yet, for me, I’ve allowed it to become unhealthy. Instead of taking steps toward healing, I’ve found myself stuck in the pain. Replaying the trauma over and over again in my mind.
Instead of seeing myself as being victimized. I began seeing myself as a victim.
When I did that, Satan placed that label across my mind and it became my identity.
Years after the event, I still found myself unable to move on. It was still affecting my everyday life and current relationships.
I needed God to heal me.
Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation.
I believe God can heal all of us in a variety of ways. For some, it could be miraculous. For others, we need to talk to someone and seek counseling. Or it might mean taking medication. The forms of healing can vary.
Satan has been working overtime in my life is by turning what has been done to me into who I am.
My identity is not found in my damage, my identity is found in Christ and what He has done for me.
That is the difference.
When I see myself as a victim. I have no power to overcome. I have no opportunity to heal.
I love Joseph’s response to his brothers who, years earlier, had sold him into slavery: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20)
When I allow God to heal me and move me past my pain, past my victimization, I can choose to no longer see myself as a victim, but instead a victor. Through Christ, I can do ALL things!
- Just because something happened to me, does not mean that is who I am.
- I do not have to find my identity in my damage.
- God can heal me and bring beauty from my ashes.
I love Isaiah 43:18-19:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Though many of us have walked through wildernesses and deserts, we do not have to live there. God is with us and He can lead us out into freedom.
If He is powerful enough to create the world, He is powerful enough to create something new out of our lives. Through His love and healing, He will make a way out – we just need to follow. Satan will tempt us to stay in the pain. He will feed us thoughts to keep us there. We must learn to fight back with God’s truth. Our past does not define us, God does.
God wants more for our lives…and so do I.
Our stories might begin with pain, but they don’t have to end that way.
- Because of Christ, we are strong.
- Because of Christ, we can overcome.
- Because of Christ, we can be healed.
- Because of Christ, we can forgive.
- Because of Christ we can show those who follow behind us that we are not defined by what has happened to us but rather, whose we are.
We are His.
I am not a victim.
And neither are you, sweet sister. #BecauseOfChrist
Love God Greatly,
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This blog post is amazing. I have been struggling with everything in this post. Now to figure out how to let God heal me!
I really need God’s healing and help to be free of all the emotional pain r and baggage that hauny ts me and impedes me from being being defoned by our Beloved Lord. I hope I can find some help and encouragement right now through this online community and ministry and not feel so alone and so helpless and doomed. Thank you fotr sharing your beauty, love of Christ, and common expereince aand wisdom with all of us.
Wow! That was amazing Angela! It felt real and raw and like God was using your pain to reach all of us. Thank you for not only being transparent but more importantly, obedient! Nothing is wasted!
~Netty