“Hurt feelings sometimes don’t want to cooperate with holy instructions. That’s why I have to add some of what Jesus did on the cross into this process. . . . It only makes sense that I include Jesus’ shed blood into my act of forgiveness when accomplishing it on my own feels so hard . . . maybe even impossible. Jesus makes it possible.”- Lysa TerKeurst
“Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will, and my he work in us what is pleasing to him.”- Hebrews 12:20-21 (NIV)
As Lysa TerKeurst continues Chapter 4 of Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, she cautions about what happens when we fail to move forward and get stuck in our own hurt. When we find ourselves unable to escape the grip of that threatening pain, trauma sets in.
Furthermore, we keep perceiving that trauma as if it’s happening in present time. In addition, Lysa explains:
“Time comes to a screeching halt, our hearts race with wildly unpredictable and terrifying uncontrollable pulses, and our brains keep sounding internal alarms that we are no longer safe. . . . remaining in this mode long term is definitely not healthy. We need to eventually move toward a state of healing, of rest. . . . Moving forward is not just a good theory. Moving forward is crucial.”
Certainly, we can look forward to eternity one day. However, it is possible to live out our heavenly citizenship today through living in such a forgiving way that our choices line up with God. As a result, Lysa asserts, our hearts are most at home in the safety of God’s truth. So, Lysa encourages, run toward the forgiveness God commands – and there find His healing peace.
Finally, the author notes, dealing with her pain one fact at a time freed her from the tangled mess of all her unspoken facts. Therefore, as Lysa verbalized her pain, she found her voice in the midst of the chaos. She brought her pain into the light. And Lysa realized what it meant to cooperate with the forgiveness of Jesus.
Today’s question: When do your hurt feelings fail to cooperate with holy instructions? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Triggered feelings cloud our vision”
