Moving forward means letting go.
Yup, try to avoid that one. When your wheels are stuck, deep in the mud, all you do is spin and spit up a bunch of goopy-messy muck.
Not good.
I had my wheels stuck in the mud a few years back. God had been so good to me. Brought me to a wonderful church, guided me in fruit-filled relationships, blessed me with four beautiful children and renewed my life through my trust in Christ.
Then the muck.
Past hurts, wrongs and pain that ran so deep it began to ooze. It was a trap I couldn't seem to budge from. It spewed in my words when the subject came anywhere near. It splattered across most of my thoughts and muddied my perception until all I could see was a giant mud splatter all over my life.
Try getting that out by yourself!
Suddenly, out of no-where, a voice said STOP.
Remarkably, I listened. I sunk for a few minutes, if I couldn't spin I was certainly going to sink... right?
But isn't it usually in those most hopeless situations that God's glory begins to shine brighter?
Mud like this takes a tow truck to pull out of and when God is manning the hook and wheel, all we can do is hang on and be ready for the road.
HE cranked it into drive, yanked me out, hosed down the car and said LISTEN.
Was I being merciless? Was I being like the man whose debt had been forgiven and then went out and rattled the cage of someone who owed him money? Oh Heaven help me if I was.
God began to show me how my hurts were justified. How, yes, the happenings of past were wrong.
But
That was then, this was now. Who would I be without those hurts and wrongs and experiences no matter how bad? What testimony would I have and understanding of others in those same places? Could I really understand those things which I know all to intimately without first going through it myself?
The answer is, no, I couldn't.
We don't like the dirty mucky places. But even getting dirty has its purpose when we trust in the One who makes us clean again. Most importantly, we can't stay in the mud, spinning our wheels and flinging it everywhere... we just get everyone else dirty with us and, well, no one likes it when someone else makes them dirty too!
God doesn't hold anger and bitterness, unforgiveness or hate. He only holds hope and renewal, promise and peace. To move forward into the future He holds we must let go of the past and present we hold.
It is OK to let go. We won't fall. In fact, we can forgive even when the other person/people haven't come to that place yet. I did. Oh glory day when Jesus took away the pain. Oh how wonderful to no longer be spinning my wheels but to instead be traveling down the road fresh and clean.
I pray, today, for any bit of mud that might have you spinning, may you reach out and call Triple T (The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost). Their towing service is the best!
Many blessings to you,
Linking up today with Mom's Mustard Seeds, Women Living Well, Seeds of Faith, Internet Cafe and A Holy Experience.
Yup, try to avoid that one. When your wheels are stuck, deep in the mud, all you do is spin and spit up a bunch of goopy-messy muck.
Not good.
I had my wheels stuck in the mud a few years back. God had been so good to me. Brought me to a wonderful church, guided me in fruit-filled relationships, blessed me with four beautiful children and renewed my life through my trust in Christ.
Then the muck.
Past hurts, wrongs and pain that ran so deep it began to ooze. It was a trap I couldn't seem to budge from. It spewed in my words when the subject came anywhere near. It splattered across most of my thoughts and muddied my perception until all I could see was a giant mud splatter all over my life.
Try getting that out by yourself!
Suddenly, out of no-where, a voice said STOP.
Remarkably, I listened. I sunk for a few minutes, if I couldn't spin I was certainly going to sink... right?
But isn't it usually in those most hopeless situations that God's glory begins to shine brighter?
Mud like this takes a tow truck to pull out of and when God is manning the hook and wheel, all we can do is hang on and be ready for the road.
HE cranked it into drive, yanked me out, hosed down the car and said LISTEN.
For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
- James 2:13
Was I being merciless? Was I being like the man whose debt had been forgiven and then went out and rattled the cage of someone who owed him money? Oh Heaven help me if I was.
God began to show me how my hurts were justified. How, yes, the happenings of past were wrong.
But
That was then, this was now. Who would I be without those hurts and wrongs and experiences no matter how bad? What testimony would I have and understanding of others in those same places? Could I really understand those things which I know all to intimately without first going through it myself?
The answer is, no, I couldn't.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28
We don't like the dirty mucky places. But even getting dirty has its purpose when we trust in the One who makes us clean again. Most importantly, we can't stay in the mud, spinning our wheels and flinging it everywhere... we just get everyone else dirty with us and, well, no one likes it when someone else makes them dirty too!
God doesn't hold anger and bitterness, unforgiveness or hate. He only holds hope and renewal, promise and peace. To move forward into the future He holds we must let go of the past and present we hold.
It is OK to let go. We won't fall. In fact, we can forgive even when the other person/people haven't come to that place yet. I did. Oh glory day when Jesus took away the pain. Oh how wonderful to no longer be spinning my wheels but to instead be traveling down the road fresh and clean.
I pray, today, for any bit of mud that might have you spinning, may you reach out and call Triple T (The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost). Their towing service is the best!
Many blessings to you,
Linking up today with Mom's Mustard Seeds, Women Living Well, Seeds of Faith, Internet Cafe and A Holy Experience.
Every life has testimonies of how God intercedes to show His power and glory. To read my story, click below:
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Amanda, your words are always so perfect for my heart...holding on to hurt...only causes bitterness....and if someone else is holding on and won't forgive...we can't go there, either. We have to move forward....Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great message. And I had to laugh. We use to farm and I was NOT raised on one so when we were married only 2 wks and he wanted me to pull his tractor out of the mud - with me driving another tractor... Lord be with me was my prayer! This is an excellent devotional :)
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the idea/picture of being stuck in the mud and spinning. I think that is a good representation! Well written. Very good!
ReplyDeleteYes, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment, etc. are destructive! I'm glad you were set free. I regularly search my heart and ask the Spirit to show me what needs cleaning up. Like you, I don't want to spend any time spinning my wheels.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this beautiful post!
Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteLadies, thank you, I am blessed that God's Word could move your hearts today. Keep trucking forward! Blessings to each and every one of you :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great analogy! Stuck in the muck- I have been there too many times the past year! Bad attitudes and time out of the word are not a good combo. Thanks for this encouragement! (visiting from mom's mustard seeds)
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ReplyDeleteMomLaur, Thank you, it was Holy inspired and certainly fit that feeling we all get at times! You are so right, out of the Word seems to sink us deeper in. Praise God for the encouragement and thanks for swinging by from mom's! I am blessed you said HI :)
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