Pointers I

‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ Matt.11:28[KJV].

Living the life of a victim is staying in the place of defeat. God has so much more in store for us which is why He wants us to learn from every painful experience. It is the wisdom gained from the past pain that will keep you above the future pain. The fact that you have been hurt does not mean you will not be hurt again. The only thing that guarantees you quick recovery is the wisdom gained. Learning from the experience helps you shed the baggage of unresolved pain. Becoming a victim usually happens over time. You can only become a victim of an experience if you permit it. However, there are some pointers that can help us avoid becoming victims. You know that you are becoming the victim of a painful experience when you get infected by that experience and feel increasingly hopeless. Hopelessness leads to depression. For instance, people experience the pain of betrayal in marriage.  Having to face the unknown alone usually births a feeling of hopelessness. And in most cases it advances into depression. Depression is a pointer to unresolved pain. When you allow yourself to get depressed by that experience it affects your gratitude. Once your gratitude is affected, your fruitfulness takes a direct hit.  Pain pushes us to withdraw from potentially damaging situations. However, because our vision is limited by the baggage of the unresolved pain, every situation becomes potentially damaging in our eyes. Hurting people become defensive and are quick to turn down every proposal of help. At other times, you will encounter people who will attempt to rub the painful experience in your face. But the truth is that you do not have to own it. It is only when you own it that you experience depression and are prone to becoming a victim of that painful experience. When you own it, it becomes an additional pain to the already painful experience. Fight depression by taking the baggage of unresolved pain to the open hands of the Master and He alone will give you rest.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me flush out every trace of depression or hopelessness I feel by Your Spirit and the Word. I bring the pain I feel to You again today, help me! In Jesus Name