It is sometimes hard to recognize, face and acknowledge the truth. For me, I thought I was “laid back and easy-going”, instead I had been taught from the time I was born that I had to accept what was happening, I didn’t have a choice, it was out of my control, so I had learned to “go with the flow” because I thought I couldn’t do anything about it. I thought I was a strong woman and could do anything I set my mind to do when in reality I couldn’t even stop the abuse that was heaped out on me.
In order to face the fact that I wasn’t strong, I had to admit the truth. It started a crumbling process in me that felt like it was destroying me. It wasn’t. It just doesn’t always “feel good” during this process. If I was not who I thought I was then who was I? My sanity, and my hope depended on my believing God’s truth and who His Word says I am.
During the demolition of this remodel, I had to face what would have been devastating if not for God. And that was the truth of who I really was. I was broken by the world and the people in my life, but I didn’t want to deal with that pain and hurt, so I pretended I had it altogether. I tried to ignore the problem. If we do that, we will never change and things in our life will never change. We continue doing the same thing, hoping for different results. It doesn’t work.
Even when we have been broken by the people or circumstances in our life, we have to let God break us. He makes us to face the truth. He helps us deal with the pain and hurt and then He builds us back up as He planned. When taking me through the breaking process, Jesus told me He was going to shake me violently like a 2-liter bottle of pop. Everything in my world went crazy. It felt like God violently shook my world, then took His hand off the top and let pieces of me go everywhere.
In the rebuild, He slowly picked up a piece of me here, maybe the desire to read His Word more, and then a piece of me there, maybe being more faithful in going to church, or spending time with Him instead of watching TV. In order to propel me to hold on, I had to continue resorting back to the blueprint, the Bible, to give me hope that something good was going to come out of all this.
God gave me His truth to hold onto. His Word kept me from crumbling and from falling apart during this process. He has given me life and hope and an assurance that His Word is true. The remodel doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it can take many years. It isn’t easy to face and acknowledge the truth about ourselves and our circumstances. Was the pain worth what came out of it? At the time I didn’t think so, but because I held on, I can look back now and start to see what God is doing with the pain and hurt, how He can use it to help somebody else go through this remodel.
Before, I blamed everybody else for my problems and I couldn’t see me and who I really was. My perception was blurred, and I was easily deceived by Satan. I didn’t understand that I do have a choice as to how I react to what others do. I don’t have to be what they say I am. By holding God’s hand, I now take responsibility for my life. By blaming others, I became just like them. I was filled with hate and anger all the time. Now I know what God’s peace feels like. I find myself able to smile and truly enjoy my life. I’m “not there” yet. God peels us like an onion, as a friend keeps telling me. We will always be going through something because He is coming back for a bride, pure and clean.
These are just a few of the Scriptures that has helped me…you will have to search for the ones that speaks truth into your life. The Bible says in John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Psalm 18: 16- 19 16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Psalm 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Isaiah 43:1-2 1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity*, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
When the pain is more than you can bear, when a lie is easier to believe than the truth, reach out for Him and He will be found. Take His hand and let Him lead you on a life changing journey. Come and know the truth that gives hope and life.
