Has Today Been a Hard Day?

Don't be afraid. I am with you. Don't tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with My arm and give you victories. Everyone who hates you will be disgraced; those who attack will vanish into thin air. You will look around for those brutal enemies, but you won't find them because they will be gone. I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you. Isaiah 41:10-13

For whatever you're going through right now, know that your friend Jesus is ever near and is leading and guiding you. You’re not in the boat alone, He’s in it with you. The voice that calmed the raging sea is calling you His child, so be still and know He's in control, He'll NEVER let you go.

For those who struggle with cutting or other forms of self-harm ... kneel before God and scream out the pain before Him and release the pain and frustrations to Him.

For those who suffer with depression and thoughts of suicide … life IS worth living, whether you feel like it is right now or not. DON’T listen to voices in your head trying to tell you otherwise.

For those suffering with addictions … may God give you grace to say no, lead you not into temptation and help you to replace addictions that aren’t good for you with other things and habits that are safe and godly.

For those in abusive relationships … God hates abuse, you’re His child and He wants NO harm to come near you (you are His temple) or your dwelling and He’s committed to take care of you. Pray for God’s will about how and when to leave abusive relationships. You can't save that person hurting you and you can't change them. Don't stay for the kids, they are in jeopardy of being hurt right where they are.

 

For those who have been raped ... it WAS NOT your fault. You are valued and loved, regardless of what happened to you. FYI - if your husband forced you against your will to have sex, that's rape, too.

For those who are pregnant … you have options. Contact a local pregnancy care center that will share the truth in love about options that will help you choose life.

For those who have had an abortion … there is healing for your empty arms at the feet of Jesus. May He hold you and fill the voids.

For those who need wisdom and direction ... seek God. Read and meditate on His Word. Ask for wisdom and direction and when you hear from Him (and you will, for you DO know His voice) do as He asks. For He has a good plan for your life.

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Helpful numbers and websites:

S.A.F.E. Alternatives self-injury hotline 1-800-DONT-CUT http://www.selfinjury.com
National Suicide (Self-Harm) Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
National Hopeline Network 1-800-442-HOPE http://www.hopeline.com
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE http://www.thehotline.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE http://www.rainn.org
National Runaway Safeline 1-800-RUNAWAY http://www.1800runaway.org
National Eating Disorders Helpline 1-800-931-2237 http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Option Line (for those who are pregnant) 1-800-395-HELP http://www.optionline.org
The National Helpline for Abortion Recovery 1-866-482-LIFE http://www.nationalhelpline.org

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I'm so sorry that others have judged you. I never will, 'cause I've got my own struggles and pains ... NO ONE is perfect.

It doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done ... God loves YOU. Jesus doesn't merely like you when you do well; He's personally and passionately committed to your good, even when you fail. God is love and He deeply, stubbornly and eternally insists on loving EVERY individual. Relax in the LOVE that CHRIST has for YOU.

Even if you don't believe that others care, know that JESUS cares about you personally, He knows you by name. Keep PRESSIN' IN to Him, He's NOT going to hurt you like others have, He CAN be trusted.

The arms that hold the universe are holding you, it's gonna be alright.

Father, thank You that even though we’ve made mistakes and feel like we’ve missed the best life that You had for us, help us to know that it’s not too late to begin again. Like a child following in the footsteps of a strong father, help us to follow Your footsteps, wherever they may go. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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See also:

God HATES Abuse - So Stop Being a Martyr and Let Go http://answerfortheailing.blogspot.com/2011/05/god-hates-abuse-so-stop-being-martyr.html
Don't You Dare http://answerfortheailing.blogspot.com/2013/02/dont-you-dare.html
Don't Self-Harm Because of a Relationship http://answerfortheailing.blogspot.com/2012/08/dont-self-harm-because-of-relationship.html
Do You Hate Yourself? http://answerfortheailing.blogspot.com/2010/05/do-you-hate-yourself.html
Signs of Abusive Men http://eshanya.webs.com/signsofabusivemen.htm

Release From the Bondage of Self-Rejection

Therefore, accept each other just as

Christ has accepted you, so that

God will be given glory.

Romans 5:7

There’s many people that live in bondage and aren’t even aware of it. Even though they don’t face bars and chains, they’ve fallen victim to beliefs and behaviors that keep them in captivity. They may go about their life thinking that everything’s all right, but deep down inside of them something’s really wrong.

The bondage is that of self-rejection, which can have absolutely devastating effects on your life. When you internalize the cruel words and rejection of certain people and believe their lies about you, it can wound you deeply. You begin to think that everyone views you the way that they do - even God. Yet, it's bondage and you MUST break free of it.

Rejection is one of the most painful emotions that a person can experience. We sense someone else’s disrespect or disapproval and it undermines our confidence. No one ever enjoys feeling rejected, but when a person experiences it continually, they eventually become accustomed to it. It permeates all their thoughts and everything that they do. They eventually reject their self because those feelings of failure and disapproval become part of their identity.

When a person falls to the bondage of self-rejection, they can’t believe anything good about their self. They need someone who they see as more important to accept them in order to feel approval. Of course, this is undermined the moment they fail to earn that person’s approval. This is a trap that can be devastating to

a person’s life because it affects everything.

As a result, they may:

• have a critical spirit because they feel rejected

• have difficulty loving others

• continually feel inferior and incapable

• attempt to get attention in immodest and unwise ways

• have a spirit of perfectionism, and because of that will often procrastinate

• have an ongoing attitude of anger and bitterness

• be very easily hurt and offended

• be very suspicious of other people’s kindness

• tend to be a loner because they eventually drive people off

When people experience rejection, they may take all kinds of wrong steps to feel better about themselves. Instead of looking to God for their worth, they focus on the people who disapprove of them and look to ungodly ways to earn others’ endorsements. As Christians, it’s easy for us to be critical of them and we need to stop. So often we wind up rejecting them for their behavior and just add to the hurt and woundedness, instead of loving them despite their actions. When we tell someone, ’You’re bad. You’re evil. You’re no good,’ we fire darts at the person’s heart and damage them. However, when we confront them with the truth out of love, we can impact their life for Christ.

We ALL need a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, and a sense of comptence. We’re accepted by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If God approves of someone, what other people think shouldn’t make much of a difference.

You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:15,16

Although all of us were alienated from God by sin, now … through Christ, we’ve been adopted into His family. We belong because the Father loves us. The One who’s opinion really matters has accepted us - and NO ONE can change that.

Our worth is found in Jesus Christ. God loved us so much that He gave the life of His only Son to save us. THAT IS LOVE and in its ultimate expression. How much are we worth to God? EVERYTHING.

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Our competence comes through the Holy Spirit. We have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling in us. He prepares us, equips us, and helps us in every task God calls us to do.

If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Have you experienced rejection? Do you know someone who has? Rejection is painful and destructive. However, you can’t focus on the feelings it causes because they’ll lead you away from the truth of God’s love for you. As a Christian, you belong to almighty God. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you have an ever-present, all powerful Helper in every situation. God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY, has forgiven you COMPLETELY, and has accepted you TOTALLY. You are a whole person in Christ, which is why you should thank God for all that He has given you. Praise is the best and surest way of overcoming your feelings of rejection, because you are affirming the truth with your words.

Though we would like all people's approval, the truth is it's not going to happen. We have to be ok with ourself and carry on, whether we ever get people's approval or not.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for loving us unconditionally, forgiving us completely, and accepting us totally. Thank You for making us a whole, accepted, worthy, competent person through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.



see also: Do You Hate Yourself?