melaniederrick.com

There is  so much pain in this world full of sin. Pain comes in so many different shapes and sizes. It comes in varying degrees. It often comes and slaps us right up side the head when we least expect it. Pain can be caused by something we have personally done or from what someone else does to us. A combination of both or unavoidable situations in life that are hard to deal with but never-the-less come our way. Pain can result from many things and for many different reasons. One thing I believe, based on my own experience, is that it is personal. It is something that only God can heal. Whatever the situation causing the pain, it is personal to me. I have to walk through the fire. No one can take that walk for me. Jesus has already taken my place on the cross. But, when it comes to trials, no other person can “fix” my problems. It is a wonderful blessing when God has strategically placed friends and family in your life to help you. To cry with, laugh with, mourn with, be comforted by and to comfort. Ultimately, with any situation, with any trial that comes my way, I have a choice to make. The choice that everyone has to make on their own. To run into our Heavenly Father’s open arms or run the other way. It’s a choice that no one else can make for you. I can choose to trust that no matter what, God, the Creator of all life, has my back or choose to rely on myself or others and fail miserably. I recently decided that screaming at the top of my lungs and banging on the door was a good idea. It may have helped me release a little bit of built up stress and anger, but it was avoidable. Had I been letting the Lord heal me, and work in my life like He wants to, I would not have had so much built up anger. If I would lay my pain at the feet of Jesus and quit picking it up, maybe I would heal at the rate God has in mind for me. I think because I keep taking my pain back from Him, I am dragging out the grieving process for myself. Along with the healing of my heart. I have good days, and I have bad days. I know God is with me through thick and thin; good or bad. All I have to do is open my Bible and be encouraged by the Holy Scriptures. To talk to Him. Then, be quiet and listen.

The first thing we have to do before we can heal from being hurt is to forgive. Forgive even when the person who hurt you hasn’t asked you for forgiveness and may never ask for it. Even if you you don’t think that person deserves your forgiveness. I don’t think one can really move on without this very important step. You can choose to forgive. It is a choice. It is not an emotion. It is a loving act. Unforgiving is a poison we can avoid. I am to forgive just as Christ forgives me.   We don’t deserve it, but he forgives us anyway because God loves us. Forgiveness is a gift we can give others with God’s healing power.

There is a grieving process that we go through when we have lost something or someone. When I say, “something”, I don’t necessarily mean a material possession. I am thinking more along the lines of trust, love, a bond in a friendship, ect. Sometimes I think, “Why do I feel so bad, there are other people who are going through much worse.” This may be true and can help put a few things into a better perspective, but your pain and your trial should not be diminished. It should not be looked at as dumb, meaningless and unimportant. Everything about us and everything we go through no matter how small it may seem to us is very important to our merciful God. So I grieve. I cry. I yell. I hit my knees. I lay prostrate on the floor crying out to God for help; for strength, for love, for understanding. Sometimes I cry until my eyes are swollen and I can’t cry anymore.  As I lay there taking a deep calming breath, God reaches down and lifts me up off the floor. He gives me a tender kiss on my heart and a gentle kiss on my soul. Then, He gives me the warmest, most comforting hug a daddy can give his little girl and says ” It’s all gonna be okay. I am here with you. Believe in me and have faith in me. It will all me okay.”

-Melanie

To learn of God’s great love and plan of salvation please visit http://www.calvaryaurora.org/how-to-know-god/