It is not in the starting that winners are made....... but the starting again.
I was with a new friend tonight and we were talking about starting again. Like most of us, she has experienced hurt in the church. I still remember that first time I felt complete betrayal in someone I had believed in. The devastation is impossible to explain until you have experienced it for yourself; and believe me, you will experience it if you are working for God in a passionate and wholehearted way.
Like most of us do, she felt shattered. She admitted that it took time for her to feel whole enough to be a part of a church again. You know, that is ok! There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking time to allow God to heal you. What is important is what we do in the meantime.
This is not the time to hide out and lick your wounds. It is definitely not a time to become consumed with the gossip and drama the situation brought about in other people. It is a time to get alone with God. It is a time to allow Him to search your heart and heal the wounds. It is a time to get deep in His Word. Find a book of the Bible that ministers to you. One friend of mine uses Job while another says Jeremiah fit her personality and situation.
Those are all things you can do.... What you can't do is quit.
I love The Biggest Loser. Jillian cracks me up when she sticks her face in theirs and yells "Don't you dare quit!" as they are crying, sweating ans snorting on the treadmill. We each need a Jillian to get in our face and yell at us until we get up after falling flat on our face.
I know it hurts. I have felt the pain of betrayal. I know you feel alone and angry and shattered. God has not forgotten you. He still holds you in the palm of His hand. When He promised He would never leave you or forsake you He already knew you would face a day just like today. You are a winner and you are destined to walk in Him so please don't quit and if you already have, its not too late to start again!
I was with a new friend tonight and we were talking about starting again. Like most of us, she has experienced hurt in the church. I still remember that first time I felt complete betrayal in someone I had believed in. The devastation is impossible to explain until you have experienced it for yourself; and believe me, you will experience it if you are working for God in a passionate and wholehearted way.
Like most of us do, she felt shattered. She admitted that it took time for her to feel whole enough to be a part of a church again. You know, that is ok! There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking time to allow God to heal you. What is important is what we do in the meantime.
This is not the time to hide out and lick your wounds. It is definitely not a time to become consumed with the gossip and drama the situation brought about in other people. It is a time to get alone with God. It is a time to allow Him to search your heart and heal the wounds. It is a time to get deep in His Word. Find a book of the Bible that ministers to you. One friend of mine uses Job while another says Jeremiah fit her personality and situation.
Those are all things you can do.... What you can't do is quit.
I love The Biggest Loser. Jillian cracks me up when she sticks her face in theirs and yells "Don't you dare quit!" as they are crying, sweating ans snorting on the treadmill. We each need a Jillian to get in our face and yell at us until we get up after falling flat on our face.
I know it hurts. I have felt the pain of betrayal. I know you feel alone and angry and shattered. God has not forgotten you. He still holds you in the palm of His hand. When He promised He would never leave you or forsake you He already knew you would face a day just like today. You are a winner and you are destined to walk in Him so please don't quit and if you already have, its not too late to start again!
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