FRIDAY

HEALING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Isaiah 53:8-9
He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, 
 and who considered his fate?
 For he was cut off from the land of the living;
 he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
 but he was with a rich man at his death,
 because he had done no violence
 and had not spoken deceitfully.

Why is it that the things we love the most are always the things that hurt the most? I love pizza. But, as I get older and my metabolism slows down something that consists solely of cheese, bread and processed meats is probably not the best thing for me to be eating several times a week. The thing is that, even though it might hurt in the long run, there is no way I’m giving up pizza, because I’m not my true self without it.

Similarly, the reality of life is, its worst pain always comes from the people we love the most. Relationships aren’t just difficult, they can be downright painful. There is an extra level of pain that takes place when the people we love the most hurt us the deepest. It is unbearable when the very people we should be able to rely on in everything and for everything are the first ones to abandon, betray or lash out at us. In fact, it can be so devastating that it can leave us wanting to cut all relationships out of our life for good.

This is exactly why Satan loves using those closest
to us to hurt us the most. He wants you to experience pain because that hurts God. But, it’s icing on the cake when He can get you to a place where you don’t want anything to do with the very thing you were created for: relationship with God and people. But, once again, Jesus has what we need.

He was betrayed by a disciple. Abandoned by the rest. Denied by one of His closest friends. Let down time after time by those that should have had his back. He knows what it feels like to be hurt by the very people you should be able to trust in. So, He empathizes with us, and then He goes one step further.

He gives us the hope of something better on the other side. Jesus was able to go beyond those deep, relational hurts to offer forgiveness, reconciliation and wholeness beyond the brokenness. Jesus wants to give the ability to live deeply within the relationships you were created for even though you know it might end up hurting. Don’t give up because you have been hurt; let Jesus show you how much you are loved, and then take it a step further by giving you the ability to be vulnerable once again.

PRAY IT OVER:

Have you been hurt deeply by someone you should have been able to trust?

How is God putting you back together? What do you need from him in order to trust again?

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