Friday Fight 162: Guarding our Hearts or our Hurts?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF162.

How many of us have grappled with a profound personal hurt that has remained hidden from most? It's a common human tendency to guard our deepest struggles, but have you ever wondered why? If it's so natural to shield ourselves by concealing our hurts, what implications does this have for our spiritual well-being if we haven’t ever told anyone, and how can we begin to address it?

Guarding our Hearts or our Hurts?

To delve into this post, I asked a friend to share a hurt that she keeps hidden in her heart. Her response was dishonesty. We've all experienced pain, but for the sake of this discussion, let's imagine a significant hurt caused by someone lying, such as a betrayal by a close friend, a deception by a loved one, or a false accusation tarnishing our reputation. There are multiple facets to consider as we apply this lesson. Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." This is the opposite of what many of us are doing. We may need reminding, but we are meant to share our hurts with God and forgive those who have hurt us in the past. By holding onto deep hurts, we also hold onto the expectation of reexperiencing them, which can skew our perception of others.

Suppose we hold onto things that have broken us, such as betrayal, loss, or rejection. These hidden hurts can open doors for false expectations and unfair comparisons. These manipulated truths stemming from a guarded heart could fuel desires to walk away. In other words, darkness will lie to us about hurtful things being repetitive, which causes us to constantly compare people and situations until we are so worried about being hurt again that being alone is more appealing.

When we bear our hurts in silence, even a small reminder of that pain can trigger a desire to withdraw, giving others the impression that we need independence. Some things are too private to share, however relationships built on trust and understanding can be a source of immense strength with someone who can share our pain. Because of these healthy relationships we are empowered enough to resist the manipulations of darkness and give our hearts to God.

To combat the manipulated expectations, give everything to God and claim His victory over every area of life. Stay away from comparisons of people other than what resembles the character of Christ. A walk like this means embodying the qualities and values that Jesus demonstrated, such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility. The comparison piece is less dominating when we stop assuming things, like every person in our lives will eventually be dishonest.

How often do we remind others how much God loves them? We must receive these exact words into our souls, knowing He cares for us with an intensity beyond our comprehension. We are uniquely created and receive love designed to fill each precise need, heal distinct hurts, and share a particular blessing. God's love is not a mass production but a personalized, intimate relationship with each of us. This is a powerful source of healing and strength in our lives! This reminder can help us overcome our hurts and walk in His light. Let's guard our hearts by holding onto the truth of God's Word.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert