Joyce Meyer shares on the two kinds of sufferings we go through to attain freedom from our past. There is a transition involved that is not always easy. Where there is transition, there is pain. Ugh!
She shares this one part that is so evident: "If we are willing to let Jesus lead us through whatever we must go through in order to be free, it may hurt for a while; but at least it will be suffering that leads to victory, to a new life of freedom."
She further goes on to explain about how many of us do not experience joy of freedom because of a wrong mindset concerning suffering. This has been a big struggle for me!!
I am amazed, after four years of counseling, wrong mindsets are still evident in my thinking:
"Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance." — Romans 5:3
At some point in your Christian life, you may have heard that Jesus wants to set you free from all your suffering, and that is true—He does. However, there is a transition involved, and transition is never easy. The pathway to freedom and enjoying your life may be difficult at times. However, pressing forward toward freedom is definitely easier than staying in bondage.
When I first realized that Jesus could and desired to set me free, I wanted to have that freedom. But my attitude was, "I will not suffer anymore; I have suffered enough." But as long as we are in bondage, we are suffering anyway; and it is the type of suffering that has no end. If we are willing to let Jesus lead us through whatever we must go through in order to be free, it may hurt for a while; but at least it will be suffering that leads to victory, to a new life of freedom.
Many people never experience the joy of freedom because of a wrong mindset concerning suffering. These scriptures reveal that we should choose by faith to be joyful while we are going through difficult transitions, knowing that because God loves us, it will produce a good end, which is, in this case, mature character.
From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Hi JBR,
ReplyDeleteI believe the healing process hits almost as much as the trauma itself. The good thing is there is freedom during and at the end where as within the trauma there is no freedom only suffocation.
Blessings hon,
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This is really good. :) Those darn transitions are tough....
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Tammy
What a BRILLIANT post, JBR. It was a lesson I learned the very hard way, unfortunately. When I underwent CBT/ERP for my OCD, it was a very painful transition, and I highly resented having to suffer. I did not understand why God was allowing me to go through that terrible pain. I don't claim to fully understand it now, but I have experienced so many blessings since going through that horribly painful transition, that I have at least some idea of what God was doing in my heart and mind. I am a changed person for having gone through it. Still a work in progress, of course, but definitely changed.
ReplyDeleteVery good post.
ReplyDelete