Friday Fight 56 - The Ripple Effect
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF56.
How often have we endured something deeply hurtful only to be left with the rushing of "why's" echoing in our minds? Yet, God calls us to surrender continuously no matter what we endure. What happens to our hurt after we stop trying to answer the whys?
The Ripple Effect:
What comes to mind when we imagine a ripple effect? Do we envision a long connection of hurts or a roller coaster of similar situations? Let's take a look at the ripple effect of continuous surrender to God.
Suppose we have endured something so confusingly hurtful that our lives have been flipped upside down. Remember that we have free will, allowing us two choices. We can walk away from God in anger or see God's mercy and love in our greatest need. In doing so, we position ourselves to surrender regardless of how we feel. When we do this irrespective of our hurt, we acknowledge that God's character is not of chaos but of order and move forward in Him. God shifts something around us when we remain postured in continuous prayer, obedience, and praise. Submission without understanding enables a ripple effect to transpire.
For this lesson, visualize a small pond with stagnant water. The pond is still and lifeless, with a stench of sin surrounding it. We represent a small pebble being thrown into this lifeless pond when surrendering. Suddenly, the water moves in all directions. This pebble, enabling the water to move, permeates growth, and rebirth fills the air. The ripple effect brings new life and healing to everything in and around the water.
Darkness wants us to sink and will create scenarios in our minds that represent this small pond, hopeless with no life. Then, if we still seem hopeful, darkness will manipulate truths, so we feel like we are treading water but exhaustedly wanting to stop.
God will take that dark hurt and anger intended to destroy us, turn it around, and use it intensely against darkness. In the process, we receive unity, healing, and restoration. God is so good; He doesn't need anything from us but desires a relationship with us. God works to impact others through a surrendered soul, bringing His life to those around us.
Through continuous submission, the pebble later becomes a rock, a stone, and eventually a boulder with God's power moving in all directions. Then, finally, the impact or ripple effect of surrender moves beyond what we ever imagined.
This lesson makes me think of my sister Beth, whose life is being unexpectedly impacted by complications during surgery. Yet, she remains hopeful and continues to pray. Be that pebble or stone! Surrender to the God of love and mercy under the pain, confusion, and hopelessness of what we endure. Be that rock God uses to bring healing and forgiveness while enabling spiritual strength. Trust Him no matter what; allow God to use you to bring life and growth to stagnant waters, removing the stench of sin.
Psalm 19:14
Pastor Shannon
New Life Calvert