Free Yourself

Have you ever been in a hurt space? A still place? A place or point in life that was extremely unpleasant? During this time you felt as if everyone has turned their back on you and it seemed as if you couldn’t get over, under or around this storm, test, or season you were currently experiencing. Sometimes this hardship, this place, this feeling stems from a situation, person or event that you haven’t forgiven. Therefore, you don’t have a way/strategy to move forward. 

We must first understand is that we cannot grow, prosper or be productive while harboring anger, hurt or pain. One of the hardest things to do for many of us to do is to forgive. Alot of us can’t forgive because we don’t know what forgiveness is. Forgiveness is defined as ceasing the feeling of resentment against an offender. It’s easy to SAY we forgive the people that has offended us but we really just bury the pain, hurt, resentment and it eventually lingers around in our heart and mind. Forgiveness for many of us is not a natural response to an offense. How can we forgive what we can’t forget? I know it’s challenging but it must be done for YOU! If you don’t choose forgiveness you will be stuck in that season of hurt, that mentality of hurt, and it will only destroy you, while the person that has hurt you is moving on freely with their life.

Everyone will experience hurt, it’s normal. Pastor Micheal Todd expressed that forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation. Some offenses are so damaging that the relationship cannot and will not be restored. So that means forgiving doesn’t mean you have to stick around the people or situation that hurt you. You reserve that right to forgive and let go. But don’t let go without forgiving because you can leave, move pass, elevate, etc. from situations but still talk the hurt, pain and shamefulness with you mentally. This isn’t okay because it makes YOU an unattractive person to be around. 

Pastor Todd listed some exit strategies to assist with getting through and over this storm and hardship you may be experiencing.

1. Rehearse the promise of God! What has God said about YOU? What has he promise YOU?  Get in your word and stay in your word so that you can stand firm on his word. The enemy will come in and say anything to destroy what God has promised for you.

2. Reevaluate the problem (get the right perspective). Whenever we are going through something we tend to be extremely pessimistic. It’s hard to see the bigger picture and we want everyone to see, hear and feel OUR side of the story. However, our side is not always the ONLY side or right side. We often look at uncomfortable situations as PROBLEMS. But God loves to talk us out of our comfort zone in order to elevate us. This is how God decided to mold and build us up. And as long as we  look at this situatuons as problems, the longer we will be in our test. God will give you the same test over and over again until you get it right. This is his way of preparing you for what comes next. Once you change your perspective, your attitude, heart and mentality will change. It is then when doors will open.

3. Refuse to use poison (complaining words). Complaining is defined as expressing the dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs of an event. The tongue is a powerful weapon. Be careful what you speak into existence while in the midst of the storm. Instead of expressing your anger, annoyance and dissatisfaction of your test, your season, your storm, learn to express words of love and positive words of affirmation. 

The road of forgiveness is not always easily traveled but it is worth the journey.

Thanks for reading... Feel free to comment and share.