Friday Fight 111: The Persistence of Our Pursuit
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF111.
Have you ever heard the cliché saying, 'Hurt people hurt people'? If so, a specifically painful season is likely flooding your mind. Not just because of the pain we endured but the realization that we hurt others because of the pain inflicted on us. We don't mean to do this, but sometimes pain spirals out of control, causing us to lash out in ways we never intended. It may not be the same hurt or wound, but the pain is pain, unfortunately. Too often, in our inability to cope or process correctly, our lives go in various directions, especially when we continually inflict and deflect because of the wounds we never allowed God to heal. So, how does this painful pattern ever end if hurt people hurt people?
The Persistence of Our Pursuit
According to James 1:17, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Let's be clear; God is not the one who hurt us; however, Satan uses tormented people to torment other people. In dealing with our pain, we develop coping mechanisms contributing to this cycle.
So now what? Do we have to accept the damage that others cause because they took their anger out on us? Sometimes it feels like we are the damaged product of damaged people, and the pattern endlessly repeats itself. Oh, but there is good news, this destructive design of sin is already broken! Our Lord, who heals (Jehovah Rapha), graciously restores us through the gift of forgiveness.
The saddest part of this sin pattern is people often identify and live according to the damage done to them. But this is painful and exhausting and causes us to walk in shame. Suppose we no longer choose to be a part of this repetitive agony. Welcome to freedom! Christ's sacrifice on the cross allows our old nature, bad habits, painful circumstances, and negative patterns to be crucified, allowing us to walk in the newness of His mercy through repentance.
If you were the recipient of another's anger, lift all your hurt to God in prayer. Then, seek help, and forgive, continually pursue the forgiveness offered. Rather than hurting others, persist in following God and freedom found only in Him. Persistently pursue knowing that forgiving others lifts the burden from our hearts and sets us free. Too angry to forgive? Remember that while we were hurt, we also hurt others, even though it was unintentional. Perhaps one day, we will want those we hurt to forgive us. God restores, regenerates, and renews; forgiveness doesn't just repeat like a painful pattern; it flows like healing water, moving in all directions and covering us completely.
Forgiveness moves our hearts from hatred to love; it reconnects families and heals generationally; it reestablishes friendships, mends deep wounds of abuse or addiction, and removes thoughts or words spoken over us that hold our minds captive.
Next time we think about the phrase 'hurt people hurt people,' let's stop and reflect on the position we hold. Let's make sure we haven't left situations unresolved. Are we currently suffering and unknowingly imposing our suffering on others in our refusal to forgive? Please stop! Wake each day and choose to be an active participant in pursuing forgiveness. Be persistent; it is well worth it. Christ paid for our free will at a high cost. Allow your heart to be consumed by joy, knowing that we are part of God's plan of healing, not further harm. Walking in community, encouraging one another, and forgiving ourselves means embracing the joys of life beyond these painful patterns covered by God's grace.
Pastor Shannon
New Life Calvert