How to handle Hurt Without Letting It Control Your Life

I am working with someone who has been hurt and is beating herself up day by day about an incident that was totally out of her control.  Like this person, if you don’t get a handle on your hurt, it will surely impede your progress. It blinds your vision, stops your spiritual growth and can interrupt your destiny.

This morning I was reading through the book of James. In chapter three where it hits hard on the subject of bitter envy and strife.  The thought that rose up in my mind is many are bitter as a result of some form of hurt. But how do you handle the aftermaths of the hurt?

If you are alive, chances are you will be hurt by someone. And, you will undoubtedly hurt someone yourself, perhaps deliberately or by accident.  I believe we all know that biblical forgiveness is a requirement. We must forgive those who have caused us hurt and forgive ourselves for hurting others. Yet there is usually some side-effect that may linger around for a time. How are we to mend from the hard hit, the harm and the hurt itself to move on with our lives and still uphold a positive self-image?

In thinking on this I came up with only three types of hurt.

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See It: The Power of Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” the writer of Proverbs 29:18 tells us. Gnawing at my very soul, this passage conversely is saying if we do have vision, we won’t perish. So my question then is why are so many people perishing? Why are so many people being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine? Why are so many people torn, losing hope and giving up?

People are perishing without visions, and many of them are very close to us.

The other day I called my prayer partner when I was perplexed about a situation. She said, “Deana, why are you focusing on ‘that’? Don’t you know all things are possible with God? Where’s your focus girl?”  Like turning a bolt to hastily secure a door, my mind quickly snapped back into focus. A few days prior, I’d allowed an intruder to slip into my thoughts causing short-sightedness of my vision. In thinking about this later, I could now see how easily people can slip into a perishing predicament simply by turning their spiritual eyes away from their dream. This triggered something inside of me and the scripture became a spoken work. There’s limitless power in vision. We perish or cast off restraint without vision! Catch this!

So buckle your seat belts and come along with me for a ride.

If anyone had reason and opportunity to perish, it was Joseph.  In the biblical story, Joseph eventually saw his God-given vision come to pass, but he went through terrible times during his journey. Between his days in his father’s house with his malicious and mischievous siblings, and his days in Pharaoh’s house being falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph spent many years torn in chaos and discomfort. He was beaten, maligned, ridiculed and forgotten on his journey to realizing his vision.

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Live Satisfied and Fulfilled

 

I have some good news for you this week and can’t wait to share this wonderful revelation. But before I do let me preface what has led up to it. Many of you have been so gracious with your comments and some have even reached out to me privately. Though your stories and situations may vary, the common denominator in them is basically living an unfulfilled or unsatisfied life. I’ve been where each one of you may be right now. But the amazing thing about life is God has given us a life manual for managing every aspect of living. You see, I believe we respect the Bible as simply a religious, holy book instead of what it actually is—a last will and testament guaranteeing a kingdom life of fulfillment, satisfaction and abundance!

So I won’t keep you waiting any longer.

We were not born to be someone’s mother, sister, wife, girlfriend or a businesswoman. Yes, we are all of these, but there’s more. We were not indiscriminately placed in this earth to do as we please, when we please, how we please. Now before you get all peppery, sit tight and read on. I submit to you that each and every one of us was born to lead. As a matter of fact, we were born to be a servant-leader. We’ve been wired for greatness. And we become great by serving our gifts to the world. It’s our earthly assignment.

This defies conventional thinking.

Let me share with you some background. I am really excited about teaching this. Jesus said in Matthew 20:26, “…But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you. Let him be your slave.” What Jesus is telling us is true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through sacrificial service.  Therefore, the measure of our satisfaction and fulfillment is in how we serve. So what do we serve with? We serve with what God has given us and that’s our gifts!

We were born to serve our gifts to the world.

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