I’m only slightly over a quarter of a century old, yet, I know the harsh reality that life is not easy. For anybody. Like…its really really hard. Not many people have an easy ride. Everyone has suitcases full of baggage. I think that is how God intended it though. If life was super easy all the time we would have no reason to lean on God when things get tough. We wouldn’t have a reason to cry out to him in our weakness. We would never grow without our weakness.
I’m not any different than anyone else. I have many suitcases full of my own baggage and trust me they are all over the 50 pound limit. A few years ago, I was challenged to open my luggage. I was challenged to allow God to replace all of my hurt with his hope. It was so painful and still is sometimes. It is, at times, more than I can bear, but that is apart of growing and maturing. I’m not “better” yet by any means. I have a long way to go. But, I can tell you for sure that I am not who I was, and that is what matters to me.
I have learned so much along the way.
The first, is to accept it. Everyone struggles. Everyone has their “thing.” Everyone has bad days, and THAT IS OKAY. You messed up…IT WILL BE OKAY. You made a bad decision? Ask for forgiveness-learn-then move on. Seriously. Don’t get too caught up in the guilt game. I get caught in that trap, and that is a sinking hole that is hard to escape from. God loves us because he made us not because we are perfect. Jesus promises to forgive and forget our sins, so we need to do the same.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and I will remember their sins no more.
Secondly, healing takes time. Growing is a process. Unfortunately, you won’t wake up tomorrow and never be hurt again by your past. It takes time.
Do you remember learning how to ride a bike? First you start with a tricycle. Once you master that you might move to a small bike with training wheels. Then you move onto a big bike. I remember falling time and time again before I figured the whole thing out. I even ended up under a (parked) truck one time. But, I kept at it, and now I can ride a bike.
Life is like that too. We hurt. We grow a little bit at a time, but we still might fall. It’s okay. Get up, let God be your strength and go at it again.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, i am doing a new thing! Not it springs, up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland
Lastly, it’s worth it.
Healing hurts, but it is worth it. At times, it feels like I will never get “better.” Sometimes it feels like I mess up time and time again. But, God hasn’t failed to forgive me yet. I certainly know that I have so long to go, but I do know that God has brought me so far already.
Going through our suitcases is not easy, but persevere and be relentless. Nothing we do or struggle with is surprising to the creator of the universe. As crazy as it sounds, I’m very thankful for what I have gone through. Through that, God had molded me into who I am today.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because, you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Kourt