Hurt But Not Held Back预览

Step 5 - Reupholster furniture. This removes the smell of smoke immediately and permanently.

A few years ago, we redecorated my husband’s office. His couch was old and outdated, worn and ripped. So, we sent his couch to be reupholstered. Could a scrap of new fabric really revitalize that old sofa? When it came back, I was amazed at the transformation. It looked completely different, completely transformed. I couldn’t believe it was the same couch. 

Sometimes after we have experienced a difficult situation, we might look in the mirror and not recognize ourselves. We see hearts marked by pain, bitterness, grief, and hurt. That’s when we know it’s time for a little reupholstering. We can look to God to trade our stony hearts for hearts like His.

God is ready and willing to make a mind-blowing trade, to reupholster our broken hearts. He will remove our stony, stubborn hearts and replace them with tender, responsive hearts. Isn’t that amazing?

We might think we can’t forgive, move on, or find true peace and rest. In our own strength, we can’t do any of these things. But when we let God trade our hard hearts for tender, responsive hearts, restoration can occur in our lives.

We are made in His image and His likeness, and we have His example and strength to help us overcome any situation in our lives. In order for this to occur, we have to make the exchange. He can’t reupholster our hearts unless we are willing to let go of the old and embrace the newness He offers. We have to be willing to exchange the bitterness, unforgiveness, and hurt which tries to hold us back from forgiveness, restoration, and peace. 

Will you make that exchange today? All it takes is saying, “Dear God, I know in my own strength, I can do nothing. So today, I ask You to take my hard heart and make it new. Make my heart tender and responsive to Your Word and Your leading.”