"Your pain can either be your platform or your prison." Carl Lentz
You decide.
Whether you are hurting because of the continuous atrocities of our hurting nation and world, or someone has personally hurt you, we all experience pain. We are going to hurt at some point or another. The question is, how will we respond.
Carl Lentz preached about pain. He talked about how we are so focused on the breakdown or the breakthrough that we don't see God in the every day. We are so consumed with the overwhelming loss or with waiting for the big break, that we don't experience the opportunities for growth in the normal every day life.
We can let pain, heart-ache, betrayal, and injustice bind us in a place of pain or use it for our platform. When we allow others or circumstances to define us, we are the ones stuck behind bars, not the perpetrator(s). What are we going to do with the pain?
Hurt people hurt people. We've all heard this saying or seen this quote. It circulates so often because it's true. Hurt leads to bitterness. bitterness to anger. Anger can stir up all kinds of yuck. So, what are we going to do with hurt?
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
God calls us to three things: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. He doesn't call us here to seek justice. He doesn't tell us to only give mercy to those who have repented of their wrongs and apologized. He doesn't tell us to shout our side loudly with pride-filled hearts on the streets or on the Internet. Nope.
Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly.
Three simple steps. Yet, they are so hard for us to follow.
Why? Why do we struggle to act justly in ALL situations. Why do we struggle to love mercy when it comes to those who have wronged us? Why do we choose pride before humility? Because we look everywhere else but the direction of the One who was the greatest example of these three things.
'Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.' Luke 23:34
Jesus is hanging on the cross. His hands nailed above his head. Nails pierce his feet at the bottom. His body collapsing suffocating him. He is dying the most excruciating death. All the while, he is witness to others mocking him and casting lots for his possessions. He sees his mother in agony as she watches her son die a slow and painful death. And what is his reaction to all this? Does he destroy his wrong-doers property? Does he publicly shame them on social media? Does he ask God to destroy them in a ball of fire? He could have done anything. He is God. But he didn't. He chose to ask the Father to forgive them. While struggling to breath, he asks for their pardon.
Y'all. This is what we do. We ask for God to pardon those who wrong us. Period. No questions asked. This does not mean we let wrongs continue. This does not give those who have done wrong a free pass. Justice will come and be served. This is for you. For me. Living a life of acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly in forgiveness frees us from our prisons and gives us a platform to change the world.
We are beat down. All of us. We are all waiting for that text of apology; that acknowledgement of wrong-doing. It may never come. We all think this horrific event will be the one that wakes us up and unites us all. It may never come. What will you do then? Will you live in your prison or will you make it your platform?
Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
You decide.
Whether you are hurting because of the continuous atrocities of our hurting nation and world, or someone has personally hurt you, we all experience pain. We are going to hurt at some point or another. The question is, how will we respond.
Carl Lentz preached about pain. He talked about how we are so focused on the breakdown or the breakthrough that we don't see God in the every day. We are so consumed with the overwhelming loss or with waiting for the big break, that we don't experience the opportunities for growth in the normal every day life.
We can let pain, heart-ache, betrayal, and injustice bind us in a place of pain or use it for our platform. When we allow others or circumstances to define us, we are the ones stuck behind bars, not the perpetrator(s). What are we going to do with the pain?
Hurt people hurt people. We've all heard this saying or seen this quote. It circulates so often because it's true. Hurt leads to bitterness. bitterness to anger. Anger can stir up all kinds of yuck. So, what are we going to do with hurt?
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
God calls us to three things: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. He doesn't call us here to seek justice. He doesn't tell us to only give mercy to those who have repented of their wrongs and apologized. He doesn't tell us to shout our side loudly with pride-filled hearts on the streets or on the Internet. Nope.
Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly.
Three simple steps. Yet, they are so hard for us to follow.
Why? Why do we struggle to act justly in ALL situations. Why do we struggle to love mercy when it comes to those who have wronged us? Why do we choose pride before humility? Because we look everywhere else but the direction of the One who was the greatest example of these three things.
'Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.' Luke 23:34
Jesus is hanging on the cross. His hands nailed above his head. Nails pierce his feet at the bottom. His body collapsing suffocating him. He is dying the most excruciating death. All the while, he is witness to others mocking him and casting lots for his possessions. He sees his mother in agony as she watches her son die a slow and painful death. And what is his reaction to all this? Does he destroy his wrong-doers property? Does he publicly shame them on social media? Does he ask God to destroy them in a ball of fire? He could have done anything. He is God. But he didn't. He chose to ask the Father to forgive them. While struggling to breath, he asks for their pardon.
Y'all. This is what we do. We ask for God to pardon those who wrong us. Period. No questions asked. This does not mean we let wrongs continue. This does not give those who have done wrong a free pass. Justice will come and be served. This is for you. For me. Living a life of acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly in forgiveness frees us from our prisons and gives us a platform to change the world.
We are beat down. All of us. We are all waiting for that text of apology; that acknowledgement of wrong-doing. It may never come. We all think this horrific event will be the one that wakes us up and unites us all. It may never come. What will you do then? Will you live in your prison or will you make it your platform?
Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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