Inspiration:
Bring your wounds to Me, and know I have already endured their torturous sting. Only in Me can you find healing for your wounded heart.
~In the Presence of Jesus by Paul Bane and Matt Litton
Scripture:
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
~John 5:6
Challenge: Restoring Hope for Things to Get Better
Jesus challenges us with a thought-provoking question. Do you want to get well? We assume the answer is yes. However, it doesn’t take long in our lives to have our hopes crushed that things can get better. For many of us, we lost that flicker of hope a long time ago and have lived in a condition of learned helplessness. Even though it’s a painful question, the reality is our upbringing and current troubles have hijacked our ability to move forward and believe things can improve. (You are not Alone in your Suffering)
Many people have great empathy for others but not for themselves. They can hurt and have compassion for their friends but have lost the ability to have that same understanding and kindness for themselves. There is the sad reality that there are many things we can’t make happen. However, the emotional baggage we struggle with daily can perpetuate the feeling we are trapped in a state of existence that things won’t get better in our lives. (May Your Losses Gently Guide You)
Today, listen for the voice of the one calling your name in the wilderness to restore hope to your soul so that you can be kind to yourself. Meditate on receiving and giving the same loving approval to your life that you provide to others. No longer take sides against yourself. Let Christ’s affirming love for you transform your life as you let go of your painful thoughts. We can slowly, step by step, regain the courage cognitively to believe things can get better, which is the first step to any healing that takes place in our lives.
