Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love · 3 Comments

It’s Worth It

Emotional healing is a remarkable feat. Kudos to those living victoriously – no longer distracted by taunting triggers and stressors. For those still pursuing emotional healing, still wrestling with creative diversions, the path to overcoming can feel like repeated cycles of defeat. Traveling the unassuming terrain toward becoming healthy (again) proves to be an arduous journey. Yet it’s worth it.

Our human condition is dressed in feelings and emotions. We can’t escape the natural consequence of action and reaction. However, we can accept the challenge to secure a healthy pathway to healing, not succumbing to repeated feelings of hurt that mislead us to misery and bondage.

I’m leading a study on the prophets Elijah and Elisha in the Bible with a group of women at my church. During our study time, we discussed Elijah’s feelings of defeat while carrying out God’s plan for his life. Elijah’s emotional state led him to run away from the ensuing hurt pursuing him. Jezebel, that is. 

From an anguished heart Elijah told God in 1 Kings 19:4, “I have had enough, Lord.” Elijah felt he could no longer escape the taunting of Jezebel’s threats to kill him, nor could he escape his weariness. He felt alone and was giving up on any hope of rescue or healing. Then God responded. God released an angel to Elijah’s side to alert him to the resources right in front of him, resources God was providing as needed healing to carry Elijah through the rest of his journey. 

At Elijah’s lowest point, he recognized, through God’s reminders, that wholeness was within reach. Even though Elijah experienced unjustified hurt along his journey, Elijah also experienced healing by the permissive hand of God. It was worth it.

Along my journey I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel defeated in this life, even while having a relationship with God. The truth is, committing to live for God and not self will position us on a challenging journey that comes with feeling hurt sometimes. However, in the nick of time, God reveals Himself, alerting us to His resources and might. Those resources may include counseling services, rest, relocation, new friends, a new mindset, nourishment, visions, whispers of encouragement, an army of angels, a table of overflow prepared for us set before our enemies, revelations, and forgiveness. 

No matter the trigger or trauma we encounter, we don’t have to wallow in feelings of defeat. Wallowing will suffocate us. Our healing is in God – He is ours, and we are His.

It’s all worth it.

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

We Can Do It! Really, We Can!

Let’s face it. There are some things in life that are easier said than done.  One of those things is forgiveness. It’s the infamous ‘F word’ that has prevented many from enjoying a full and peaceful life.  I would even dare say that forgiveness is the miracle-working medicine God designed to cure and heal our families, communities and the church worldwide. But still, interestingly, easier said than done.  Why? Because the hurt, harm and pain one inflicts on another, intentionally or not, looks and feels differently for each of us on the receiving end. It digs in and rests in uncomfortable and sometimes volatile places and anchors there, allowing for no attempts of rescue. The idea of actually forgiving that someone or forgiving some group of people, organization, entity or even forgiving yourself may be repulsive to you, scary or offensive even to your spirit. The offense was too much, too major, too big of a deal to forgive. You may even be thinking, ‘If you knew my story you would understand why I just can’t do it…not now.’ Understood. I get it. If you prick me, I’ll bleed too. And then one day my weakened spirit got a transfusion from God’s word. God reminds us all in scripture, as Jesus hung on the cross, dying, with the unthinkable sins of the whole world upon Him,

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)

What an example of forgiveness! I had always read that scripture from the context of Jesus’ resurrection, the chronological events of his death and rising, but never from a context of how to forgive others. Jesus endured so much from those who intentionally did Him harm, yet He still pleaded for God to forgive His offenders.  His offenders had not accepted who He was, who His Father was, nor had they accepted or understood what was to come. They truly did not know what they were doing! Yet Jesus was genuinely, not facetiously, concerned for them. We are expected to do the same and, surprisingly, when it seems we can’t, we actually can – in God’s strength! He is our Father and we are His children. God reminds us in Matthew 6:14-15,

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

This week’s Prayer Assignment:

Pray – God, let me strive to be more like You and extend forgiveness to others. I realize now more than ever that by doing so my life will be better and it will be pleasing to You too.

Prayer works! Complete the prayer assignment and watch God move in your midst. You can do this!

This week’s Helper is written in accordance with My church’s weekly Lenten devotions centering on healing and deliverance in seven areas during the Lenten season. This week’s devotion is on forgiveness.