As you will see from the devotional below, recovery can be exhausting sometimes. I certainly have shared many times in my blog how exhausted I have become both mentally and physically. How utterly painful getting in touch with my feelings have been at times, and even more recently as I become more open to God performing the surgery that is needed to heal my pain. So, I know this statement holds true, and I am sure a lot of you can also relate.
At the same time, the devotional shares the promise of God being with us every step of the way through our painful recovery and transformation. This can be hard for some of us, since we did not ask to have this pain in the first place. We may Never understand God’s reasoning this side of heaven.
God knows and understands our pain, our tears, our anger, our frustrations, our hate, our rage, our seething, our loathing, our confusion, our temper, our questioning, our doubting, our resenting, our cursing, our blaming, our rebelling, our SI, our addictions, our mental illnesses, our quitting and through all of this He cares and loves us! I know this can be a BIG pill to swallow. For the most part, it is hard for me too. But some how, there has to be a place in our journey that we flat out have to give our pain and hurt to Him totally. Not just a little, but all. I am NOT saying this is easy, as it is not! I still have not!! But, each day I see myself trusting and giving more to Him when I am realizing that He desires to help me and longs for the closeness that was originally planned and my freedom!
Maybe all I am asking of you now as you read the devotional below is to say the prayer at the end daily for the next few weeks. I am not here to try and convert anyone! We are all in this together, and right now my emotions are raw and my heart is breaking not only for myself, but for some of you.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16
Sometimes recovery is exhausting. Sometimes we feel like a raw nerve all the way down to the core of our being. You can't touch anything without causing pain. In times like this we see clearly that our healing must be from the inside out. Nothing superficial will be of any consequence. We need our 'inner being', our 'heart', to experience God's healing power.
It is clear from this text that God understands where our healing must take place. The Spirit seeks to strengthen us in our 'inner being'. Christ seeks to dwell in our 'hearts'. God is not interested in appearances. God is not interested in performances. It is not God's plan for us to 'look good'. God's work will be deeper and necessarily more painful than this. The transformation we need will take place at the core of our being. This may seem impossibly difficult to us. But it is not impossible for God. It is out of 'his glorious riches' that God can strengthen us. God is not helpless in the face of our brokenness. God is a resource-full God.
I have worked hard to look good on the outside, Lord.
But, it has done no good.
It hasn't worked.
I am not what I appear to be.
I need to heal from the inside.
Only you can do that, Lord.
Come Holy Spirit, to my inner being.
Come Christ, dwell in my heart.
Heal and strengthen me in the depths of my person.
Out of your riches, strengthen me. Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Amen to this prayer! Your faith that longs to submit all of your pain to the Mightiest Healer and place them in His loving hands is very moving! His strength is your strength JBR. God bless.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true. Thanks for cheking on me.
ReplyDeleteWanda so good to see you. Your absence was greatly missed.
ReplyDeletercubes, thank you!
It's hard to let go and trust JBR. It's a struggle for me.
ReplyDeleteI know dear one, maybe in time AD! (((AD)))
ReplyDeleteGreat posting,thanks for sharing{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
ReplyDeleteI am encouraged by your fight of faith each day.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you.
♥Hope
Much appreciate your thoughts Mike and Hope, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYa know JBR, I DO try to be "real" and is looks easy, but ain't. It means telling you what's inside, rather than showing you an 'outside' lie.
ReplyDeleteI wish that EVERYONE could just be real, life might could then be fun for all (did NOT say "free-for-all" -grin!).
Bless you for hanging in there, continuing to be real.....
Peace,
S
JBR you have odooles to say in this post don’t you? Even I can pick some out for myself. Truly you do have compassion.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to be real by letting you know I missed your blog while I was on vacation. I am glad to be back so I can get back to reading it!
ReplyDeleteIf a man ask for a fish, will his father give him a stone? He knows what we have need of and will provide. Nice devotional. take care~rick
ReplyDeleteBlessings and thanks to you Rikkij, Gin, Stevie and Strawberry.
ReplyDeletewe need someone to lean on, right?
ReplyDeleteShadow, yes dear one, we do. :)
ReplyDeleteJBR, thanks for your encouraging words. You are an inspiration to many of us here. I came out over 12 years ago and never imagined to find me close to this point again. Well, feel free to write to my private mail if you like: tunpa ( at) hotmail.com.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you and we all need someone to lean on. Big hugs across the pond
Paula, appreciate your comment and honesty dear one. ((((Paula)))) Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJBR you'r so special and real. Thanks and hang in there.
ReplyDeleteYou share an array of emotions in this post. Covers all avenues it seems. Devotional coinsides with what you say. Your progress is moving along.
ReplyDeleteJanet and stuck thanks for the visit and comments. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI am not what I appear to be either, except here in BlogWorld, where I am truth. I love "Nothing superficial will be of any consequence." Will chew on that awhile.
ReplyDeleteW&W appreciate your honesty. Glad you are truth among bloggers. Blessings dear one.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and I can completely relate to this post, I am trying to overcome resentment and some days it is extremely difficult to control my temperamental mouth. I regret the things I say and this was a gentle reminder that God understands what I'm going through. He is not an outsider looking through the window, He can feel my hurt and wants to comfort me like a mother comforts her child :) aren't we blessed?!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for the follow
Martha, thank you for the visit. I am glad that you received comfort from the devotional and I appreciate your sharing a bit. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteMay Gods peace and love envelope you!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, and I lived near the "Serra de Sintra", in Portugal, many times I used to make a journey to the top just to be closer to God. I know that we are with God everywhere, but there is something, a silence, there that makes communication so much easier. I hope you know what I mean. And there is a little franciscan convent, which was open to everyone at that time (now is surrounded by walls and electric fences) where I found Jesus, smiling, with his open arms. I loved to go there.
ReplyDeleteThis two years away from all left me completely on the ground. I too need a healing. I know what you feel - sometimes, only the faith can keep a light ahead of us to show us the way. I walk hand in hand with you, in prayers and thoughts. Keep your flame high (I know it sounds fake, but believe me strongly) better days will come to you.
Thank you for sharing and for creating a bond.
Love.
Ron, thank you so much for your support and encouragement as always dear one!
ReplyDeleteSylvia, appreciate your first time visit, thank you. No, what you say is not fake. I know exactly what you mean and feel. Sometimes the closer to heaven we can get (plane, high summit) the closer we feel to God. Makes perfect sense to me. I hope God supplies you with His healing touch that your ask. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!
This is so beautiful. The devotional is nice, but your words are what touched me. You are an amazing writer, and able to touch my broken nature. Thank you for sharing. I miss you, I must read more often. Thanks for giving us all something to help us heal. You have the healers art, which I know comes from God, making you what he intends you to be.
ReplyDeleteAmen, amen.
ReplyDeleteDenise thank you for your echo of powerful Amens! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Mile, always a pleasure to hear from you dear one! I can only give credit to the Holy Spirit for my leading and the words I share to you all! Blessings!
Colleen, glad you can benefit from the prayer. ((((Colleen)))
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing blog. I love it. Thanks for finding me.
ReplyDeleteI too was intrigued by your blog Crash! Thank you for the visit!
ReplyDeleteJBR, your honest posts touch me in ways you'll never know. I came back to share a blog award with you. If you get a chance, come over and pick it up if you feel like doing it. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteVery honored Rcubes for the award, thank you. ((((Rcubes))))
ReplyDeleteDear JBR, thanks for your kind and caring words. YEs, you are right there is a lot of personal stuff I dont post. reason is that I dont manage to work on to many fronts at the same time. I am multitasking but not when it comes to work through several emotional crisis. Second reason is that my personal stuff... we agreed not having contact till end of year, however he seeks my blog between 3 - 5 times aweek. hence I keep things to myself. Not talking about HIM, MY EX. Thanks for being so attentive. Love xxx
ReplyDeletePaula, I hear you and understand.
ReplyDelete(((Paula)))
Sitting and listening
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding......
ReplyDeleteThank you Tola.
ReplyDeletePraises to God who does accept us when we are Real!! Amen. ♥
ReplyDelete