By now we have all heard the phrase, hurt people hurt people. I would imagine that most people have experienced this from strangers, co-workers, and worse of all family. It’s never easy to understand how or why it happens. Sadly, those that are hurt are unaware of the behavior that is actually causing hurt to someone else. Creating a divide, two paths from a point of agreement. It’s painful watching because they claim the victim mentality, they become consumed with their own problems and never see the trail of destruction that follows behind them. Maybe you’ve reached your limit and at this limit I’m you’ve decided to give up on them because its not worth the pain and uphill battle. DON’T GIVE UP!! Never give up, never stop, confront them head-on with LOVE!
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
God doesn’t stop loving us and every day we find ourselves in a situation not so flattering wearing the dunce cap standing in the corner asking ourselves, “how did I get here”? So why be so quick to give up on someone? Don’t continue to walk in hurt because someone has hurt you. Break the chain. Be bold and don’t allow hurt from someone else to derail your happiness. Decide to speak life and not death (Proverbs 18:21). Be bold with love …
…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39 (ESV)
HOPE
God never gives up and neither should we. Clearly, there is something deep-rooted that has hurt them or caused doubt … maybe it’s failed expectations, maybe it’s a broken heart, maybe it’s a decision gone wrong or maybe it’s sin, ya I said it, sin. Without a doubt, most people think of sin as something extremely heavy like murder, stealing, etc. Never to think of emotional fishing (the act in which someone sits beside a stagnant pound dropping their fishing line into the water with hopes of retrieving an emotion that suits their current circumstance) as a gateway to actions causing sin. Hurt comes from a place where emotions ran rampant and they need to be adjusted or course corrected to line up with the heart of God.
Jesus was never afraid to confront issues like sin and we should follow His example! It’s never easy and trust me, I’ve experienced the awkwardness. The look that is given by that individual as if you’ve cut them deeper … and you didn’t, but they are blinded by their own hurt and pain. You were just trying to administer healing. So lets put this in a physical perspective. Have you ever had a deep wound? Needing to fix the wound you get stitches and stitches are painful without an anesthetic. That anesthetic is the Word of God. At first, that person may want to reject it but speaking God’s Word never comes back void (Isaiah 55:11). Clean the wound with love, pour out what God’s been pouring into you. Continue to stitch the wound, then wrap a bandage around it and then daily check on the wound by changing the bandage. This may take time but don’t allow the enemy to get a foothold on the situation. Checking on the bandage and changing it allows the would to heal properly and it keeps infection away.
HEALING
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 (ESV)
“…groanings too deep for words.” Ever been there? That’s the hurt or maybe the frustration you’ve been experiencing caused by someone else’s hurt. My God is a healing God and He knows even in the groaning what you’re experiencing. Allow God to move in your situation. He will restore the relationship!
Homework:
Read, study, and act upon Romans 12:9-21.