“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3
There was a time in my life when a mixture of salt and water was the cure to everything. My dad would often bring me a glass when I had lost a tooth, caught a stomach bug, or cut my lip. When I was little, I did not realize that, upon taking a drink, the concoction would burn at the very touch, but as I grew older, I knew when I saw that golden Tupperware cup that I was in for some hurting.
I will admit that despite the burn, it was not long after drinking dad’s remedy that the cut or sore was almost completely healed. After running from him, I would complain for an hour about how bad it tasted and how angry I was that he had made me do such a thing. I never could understand that in the moments I swallowed the salt water, I was in a process of healing, and in time the awful taste it brought would be just a memory.
Since then, I have been made to drink that “salty water” again. The Lord has passed me a cup that I never want to drink from again. The sting from this wound feels as though it will never heal, and I am forced to feel the agony of when the salt hits the scar. This is a cut that is deeper than the surface of skin: the memory of a child.
For months I have been through the injuries and scar that losing a child leaves. I have ached upon hearing of others’ pregnancies and tasted the teardrops that this memory brings, none of which have felt as if my heart is mended. In fact, I recently ran from a friend that shared my due date as I saw her growing stomach among a crowd a people. My wound is still there.
It is easy to say we are past the hurts that lie within our hearts, but the truth is that we are allowed to hurt and to grieve. There are reasons for all of these as stated in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3-4, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” God understands our sorrow, and He Himself knows our pain. Yet I cannot understand the immensity of His hurt as He allowed His only Son to die in my place on the cross (John 17).
I do not know what hurts you are holding onto, and I cannot understand what aches within your heart. However, I do know that if you will allow Him, God can pour salt into your wounds and heal you. Mark 9:50 states, “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” If we are to be the “salt of the earth,” we must be more like Christ. When we face these circumstances, God is able to instill Christ-like characteristics in us as we draw closer to Him. Each moment is an opportunity for God to restore your injuries in a way that will glorify Him. Please do not step away from your Heavenly Father when He offers “a cup of salt and water”; He is making you new again.
Hurting yet Healing,
Jenna Johnson
Words of Encouragement Email: johnsonwordsofencouragement@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Indentity in Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indentity in Christ. Show all posts
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Identity Theft
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10
Have you ever gone to the checkout counter at a local retailer and have the person politely whisper to you that you do not have sufficient funds in your account to purchase their merchandise? It can be embarrassing and cause your blood pressure to rise fast. Honestly, this is something that you may not want to admit to anyone. Bad checks, bad credit and a bad name are things that everyone wants to stay away from.
Yesterday while trying to purchase an item from a local retailer, I was faced with this embarrassing situation. The cashier scanned the items that we needed, and I swiped my debit card through the machine. For some reason, it would not work. Doesn’t it make you frustrated when you know the money is in the bank but you can’t get it out? Especially when the people in line behind you are laughing inside because the cashier has to whisper to you the dreadful words, “insufficient funds.” The plastic didn’t work, so I decided to try a check. It was out in the car, so I ran through the rain and came back in as fast as I could. The people behind me were still waiting in line, patiently. I write the check, and the cashier runs it through the system and tells me again, “denied.” Not only am I denied, but I also have two bad checks in the system for $290.
My wife of 11 weeks is standing beside me, and I can’t believe this is happening. Then, I remembered. About two years ago, my car was broken into at the downtown YMCA and all of my checks were stolen and spent from Wal-Mart to Dollar General. I had cancelled everything immediately, sent police reports into all the business and had everything cleared at the local stores. However, there is still a glitch in the system at headquarters that must be worked out. As I stood at the front desk, I talked to the manager in sincerity, truth and integrity, because I knew I was walking in truth and this was a mistake.
Everyday, Satan is trying to break into homes and churches to steal their identity in Christ. He has always been a liar, cheater, and an imitator of the things of God. He wants Christians to think that God will not hear their prayers, have sufficient grace to accomplish their God-given tasks, and wants to frustrate us to steal our testimony of love, joy and peace. He is a defeated foe and can never stand up to a man who has fulfilled the law and is walking in integrity.
Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God through Him. He hung on the cross and identifies Himself with us. He took our bad checks, bad credit and our bad names and forgave us by grace through faith. We no longer have to worry about insufficient funds, because He is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in grace. Nor do we ever have to worry about being denied. He tells us in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” In Christ, our identity is secure. We are forgiven, treasured and deeply loved. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11) When we are standing at the checkout of life, we can know that our identity is cleared and will be granted access through Christ into everlasting joy that no man can steal. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
Have you ever gone to the checkout counter at a local retailer and have the person politely whisper to you that you do not have sufficient funds in your account to purchase their merchandise? It can be embarrassing and cause your blood pressure to rise fast. Honestly, this is something that you may not want to admit to anyone. Bad checks, bad credit and a bad name are things that everyone wants to stay away from.
Yesterday while trying to purchase an item from a local retailer, I was faced with this embarrassing situation. The cashier scanned the items that we needed, and I swiped my debit card through the machine. For some reason, it would not work. Doesn’t it make you frustrated when you know the money is in the bank but you can’t get it out? Especially when the people in line behind you are laughing inside because the cashier has to whisper to you the dreadful words, “insufficient funds.” The plastic didn’t work, so I decided to try a check. It was out in the car, so I ran through the rain and came back in as fast as I could. The people behind me were still waiting in line, patiently. I write the check, and the cashier runs it through the system and tells me again, “denied.” Not only am I denied, but I also have two bad checks in the system for $290.
My wife of 11 weeks is standing beside me, and I can’t believe this is happening. Then, I remembered. About two years ago, my car was broken into at the downtown YMCA and all of my checks were stolen and spent from Wal-Mart to Dollar General. I had cancelled everything immediately, sent police reports into all the business and had everything cleared at the local stores. However, there is still a glitch in the system at headquarters that must be worked out. As I stood at the front desk, I talked to the manager in sincerity, truth and integrity, because I knew I was walking in truth and this was a mistake.
Everyday, Satan is trying to break into homes and churches to steal their identity in Christ. He has always been a liar, cheater, and an imitator of the things of God. He wants Christians to think that God will not hear their prayers, have sufficient grace to accomplish their God-given tasks, and wants to frustrate us to steal our testimony of love, joy and peace. He is a defeated foe and can never stand up to a man who has fulfilled the law and is walking in integrity.
Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God through Him. He hung on the cross and identifies Himself with us. He took our bad checks, bad credit and our bad names and forgave us by grace through faith. We no longer have to worry about insufficient funds, because He is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in grace. Nor do we ever have to worry about being denied. He tells us in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” In Christ, our identity is secure. We are forgiven, treasured and deeply loved. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11) When we are standing at the checkout of life, we can know that our identity is cleared and will be granted access through Christ into everlasting joy that no man can steal. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
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