Recognizing God's Voice // Learn to Encounter HimSample

How to Be Fearless (in the Midst of Your Pain)

Holy Spirit in us, this is what we heard for you:

I know what was said was hard to hear. I know your heart ached when you heard it. I have made that heart of yours soft. If it hurts, when the harsh word comes, that is not a bad thing. It shows that your heart has not hardened; it shows you have let me in; it shows you have let me stay.

Let me stay.

But what to do with that pain? What to do when the situation is the same, again and again? What to do when it feels like nothing is getting better, when you are convinced you are stuck and the turning of the corner feels like it will never come? “What now?” you say. “How to keep going?” you plead.

I know you’re frustrated. You want the situation to be repaired—and it is good to come to me, to ask me for help. But listen now, child. When the pain comes, you have to keep holding on to me. Remember that you don’t have to plunge forward, into unknown territory, without knowing which way to turn.

Turn. Turn, my child. I am right here. 

Turn. Turn, my child. I am right here.

I love you, you know. And it is that love that will help you keep your eyes on me. There might not be the easy solution here—can you imagine that? There might not be a sudden change in this situation . . . and that might actually be okay. 

Are you okay with that?

I am sorry you are hurt. But I take care of your heart. Let me take care of your heart. Give this to me. Worry less about the solution with this person and focus first on where I am in the moment when the confrontation happens next. Practice looking for me when you speak to them again. Do it in the moment, not afterward. Practice listening for me when you wonder what to say. Do it in the moment you are confronted again. I am with you, Holy Spirit within you. 

I love you, fearless one.

Exercise:

How do we keep going? When it hurts? When an argument feels bigger than an argument . . . When someone’s hurt us. . . When we’ve said things we didn’t mean . . . or things we did mean, but we regret . . . When words have cut deep . . . When we struggle to forgive . . . forgive ourselves or another. 

How do we know what to do next . . . what to say?

How do we stay in relationship—and find the will and the courage to love—when we’re frustrated . . . overwhelmed . . . fearful about what might be coming?

These are good questions . . . important questions. But the bigger question is this: How do we keep from hardening our hearts? Because it’s really easy to go into survival mode, to take control and protect ourselves, to close our hearts off from hurt, to close them off from God.

But, now, is precisely when we need Him most.

Let’s turn to God, right now. Together, let’s trust His goodness, His power, His capability, His willingness to intervene. Let’s open our hearts and ask Him to protect them, instead of us trying to do it ourselves. And let’s give Him this situation. Release it completely to Him—all the pain, all the frustration; all the chaos, all the hurt.

Hold it out to him. And wait. Wait for His response. Watch and listen for what Jesus does. Because His response is what we’re waiting for. It’s what we need now.

Jesus, I love You. I trust You. You are more than able to deal with this pain. You are kind. You are wise, and You are good. You love me. You know me better than I know myself. You want what is best for me. So, I trust you. I trust your solutions. I trust your Way. I listen for it now. So, help me see you, help me see your Way, and help me keep my heart open . . .

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