The Choice to Mature!
It’s been a full couple of months of walking out painful and sorrowful journeys with so many hurting people.
In many situations, I need to walk slowly with them as they “limp through losses” and those disappointments that hit unexpectedly.
For many, extraordinary hardships, difficult relationships, emotional crisis or traumatic childhood sorrows have felt as if hurricane force winds have battered and bent them into a deep weariness.
Many just tuck-tail and hide or return to compartmentalizing their feelings and emotions and pretend that it’s not their problem, no big deal, “WHAT-everrrrr!”
This is a strong indication that fear and immaturity are at play in their lives. This can be devastating to the goal of breaking free from old patterns.
Storms, Crisis of Conscience and Discomforts test not only our “staying power” but also the depth of our friendships and family relationships.
Oh how hard the heart can quickly become when we see others in a season of “weary bent down struggle!”
Often, there are those who rudely condemn or dismiss the pain or personal sacrifice that others might be either going through or are working their way out of.
Those who choose an indifferent attitude or feel that the “drama of other people’s lives” is just too much for them to emotionally or relationally care about, well, they too will eventually have their day of sorrow come, and perhaps they will have pause to reconsider their cruel words or lack of encouragement when life becomes more difficult.
Perhaps…
…But unless there is a crisis strong enough to wake them from the paralyzed “slumber of self” and, missing element of transparent accountability to others for repentance and help to accompany this, returning to lick the sores or self pity and denial are all too common.
However!
Pain that is hidden, is still pain!
The anguish of traumatic past events can filter and twist our perceptions about life, the Love of God, and our most intimate of relationships.
God created your heart, and when it’s weary and insecure, or masking truth, there is inevitable devastating pain. If that pain is not dealt with, serious consequences can occur emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Heartbreak is very real, and it’s very serious.
If you’re in a season of personal refining or are facing harsh storms, “lean in” to the raw and the unfiltered truth about where you are and where you got off track or out of sorts.
Trust the loving shelter of your precious Savior’s hand and know that He will lead you to the other side of the raging storm as you let Him enter the conflict.
Refuse a sense of entitlement and don’t demand to be understood! (For instance – “I have a right to be less than I can normally be! I’m tired of having to face myself.”)
Instead, intentionally humble yourself and look, discern, so you can understand what the Lord is doing around you, and in you.
He will faithfully lead you and you will be strengthened as you go.
On the other side of this refining time is a fresh perspective and new mercies.
You WILL stand upright again, and you’ll be all the wiser about life and how to navigate storms… instead of insulating and isolating yourself.
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and at the EXACT right time, you will be lifted up, stood upright again.
Back in synch with the “real you” God planned you to be.
Here’s my question for you:
Do you have a sense of how God is using your current circumstances to prepare you for greater accountability, greater kindness, greater understanding of humility and compassion and purpose in your life calling?
Jesus himself, spoke these words to us addressing the core issue.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I HAVE overcome the world,” John 16:33.
Be Courageous!
Take sides with God!
Get the help, counsel, accountability and medical advice that you need in order to not sabotage your own maturing in Christ!!
You will be so thankful that you stepped out of the darkness and into His MARVELOUS light!
In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ©
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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms
Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.
Awesome. Love it. Thanks a lot.
Mary, I feel that this is an incredibly important and anointed message. This is a part of the missing piece, I believe, that will move our whole country into revival. God impressed upon me a few years ago that what we are seeing in America today is what was called immaturity in the Bible. We have developed a nation of adults who are very immature in their reasoning, and their life choices. This is what Jordan Peterson talks so much about, and people are listening!! I hope you will expand on your thoughts about this topic as the Lord leads you—I feel it would be valuable, and I feel that people might finally be willing to listen.