Hi All ~
So I’m in a new season in my life… complete with a new type of Bible
study/accountability small group as opposed to a larger class setting. It’s not a “sanctioned” group (makes
me chuckle cuz I’m so rebellious like that J) but it’s just what
the doctor ordered and I love it.
The safer we feel in the group the more layers of phony peel away. It’s
a bit scary and a lot wonderful. Is it
any surprise that God says over and over again “ to (fill in the blank) one another” ~ love, encourage, confess to, submit
to, fellowship with, restore, bear… The awesome comes in watching God’s word being
lived out in this sweet group as we “one another” each other.
Some of us have carried burdens, questions, misunderstands of God and
ourselves for months, even decades; things we’ve been too embarrassed or hurt
to admit. We couldn’t decipher the origin of the gnawing and twisting in our
soul. So we did the only thing we knew to do. We stuffed it or chalked it up to
a presumption of God’s character. And when the conclusion came back really bad we
figured that something must be terribly wrong with us.
At the end of the day, most conclude that yes, absolutely, God loves you…just not sure He’s all that crazy about
me… So there. It’s been said...out loud
to others and not just rolling around in the pit of one’s stomach.
And that’s when the beauty begins to
unfold.
Don’t misunderstand. The beauty doesn’t come from the fact that we don’t
believe God delights in us. No, that’s
quite sad. The beauty comes out of brokenness and vulnerability, the fact that
we admitted it out loud. We don’t have it all figured out and we need comfort
or help or wisdom. The child of the King
has stopped hiding her wound and dared to expose it to the One who wants so
desperately to heal it.
It’s tough for sure, because we hate disclosing things we think we’re
not supposed to feel, yet doggone we do feel them. Admitting it is the first step to
reversal. The Bible says, “Confess your
faults one to another that you may be healed”.
James 5:16
Sometimes the truth spills out through tears of release. That thing
that’s been bubbling deep inside finally receives permission to escape knowing
these gracious, wise women will handle it with care and gentleness.
Sometimes
it’s voiced through a defeated resignation. It’s just a scabbed-over, painful
matter of fact. On the surface it doesn’t even hurt anymore. We used to wonder why life works out for
others but not us. That hurts too much and we’re tired of hurting over it. Crying hasn’t changed it, so we’ve just
resigned to the gaping hole. Deep down we also know that right below the scab’s
surface is an eruption of ugly. We decide to guard that precious layer like
Fort Knox for fear of its messy contents.
But something about this safe group makes one wonder if barring grief’s
door is really the abundant life God meant for us.
Interestingly enough, resignation is the last
stage of grief before the victory stage.
So many of us get trapped in that step.
We drudge through life ending the grieving stage just one-step short of
the freedom part.
The truth is we all get splattered and trampled by life. If we translate those circumstances in our
own wisdom, apart from God’s truth, we end up stuck at arms length from
God. But that is not the heart of our
Father. I love how one author put it, “close enough to smell His skin”. Ah, yes!
That’s what I want.
I would’ve been stuck too had it not been for the “one another” people
who journeyed along side me and helped me decipher life’s obstacles.
Do you have safe people in your life to whom
you can confess your faults, your questions, your musings and ideas? Satan’s
plan is to isolate, to make you think you’re the only one and your crazy! God’s design is for His body to join together and
be like iron that sharpens iron. I’m so overwhelmingly thankful for the godly,
lovingly authentic “irons” in my life.
They sharpen and challenge, encourage and love.
I’m praying for you, my friend... for all of us to experience God’s plan
for “one another”. It heals. It strengthens. It sets us on the path to be our best for Him
and His glorious purpose.
May
we all “one another” each other!
Live free and light today! ~ Love
Rebecca
No comments:
Post a Comment