Isaiah 38:16-19 NLT

“Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins. For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.”

 

 

I recently watched the movie The Upside and it tells a story about a rich man who was a quadriplegic. He lived an adventurous life until he had an accident paragliding and became paralyzed from the shoulders down. This man, who had once experienced great satisfaction in his life, had undergone a traumatic event that changed his entire outlook on life.

 

His heart, mind, and body were affected.

 

He couldn’t do the activities he used to do. He didn’t have the freedom to drive by himself- he needed someone to attend to him 24/7. He was depressed. He was lonely and had given up on fully experiencing life. That is until, another man, who was of a diverse background, entered the scene.

 

This new character had gone to prison. His life was disjointed. He had no credentials to work for this rich man but was somehow the only person who could reach him and help him rebuild his life.

 

In short, he taught him how to exist even though he had experienced trauma.

 

I don’t know about you but when I go through something traumatic, I check out. My first thought is not to run to people for help. I’ll get quiet. I will begin to distance myself from others and I’ll start to try to process the event(s) by thinking about it- to attempt to better understand what just happened. And although I turn inward, it doesn’t always help and the necessary healing doesn’t occur. Matter of fact, unless I invite the Lord into my situation (to help guide me through to my healing), that peace is never reached. Instead, the devastating feeling never really goes away. It’s sort of swept under the carpet until I accidentally stumble upon it, and then every negative emotion rushes back in because the pain was never dealt with.

 

As I watched this movie, I had to pause and ask this question “How many people have been dealing with the trauma of a devastating situation and have signed a DNR (do not resuscitate) in regards to their own life?”

 

We each deal with trauma in different ways.

 

When trauma hits, it’s very tough to find your way back from it.

 

Something happened, that shook your entire world and left you wanting to abandon life.

So it becomes hard to find joy in the little things.

It becomes hard to interact with others or even support them.

When the focus is solely on what was lost or experienced, the overwhelming feeling of disappointment and hopelessness will usher in.

 

At the time you can’t believe that life will get any better.

 

You can’t believe that your pain can be healed.

 

If anything, such a person will stay away from anything that will resuscitate them.

 

Don’t fix my heart.

Don’t fix my mind.

Don’t fix my health.

Don’t fix my marriage.

Don’t fix my ministry.

Don’t fix my friendships & relationships.

Don’t fix my anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies.

Don’t fix my DESPAIR…..

 

However, the Lord is in the fixing business.

 

He came to reveal and heal. He came to tear down and build back up. He came to shine His light into our utter darkness.

 

A DNR is not for those who are spiritually alive in him. (To be clear, I am speaking of the spirit of giving up on one’s self when God has a future in mind for you. To forfeit your future and destiny because you’re basking in your temporary and fleeting feelings. And it is a sin that is all too easy to find ourselves swimming in, better yet, drowning in.)

 

Never believe that God has left you. He sees exactly where you’re at. He is a present help in the time of need.

 

The curtain of your life has not closed. If anything, you haven’t even hit intermission yet.

 

There is still a second act before you take your final bow.

 

Unfortunately, some of us have chosen not to show up to life. We’ve given up. We’ve closed our own curtains way before it was time.

 

The great thing is that the Lord has not stopped your heart from beating, which means He still has a purpose for you to be here.

 

Believe it or not, we have an ASSIGNED LIFE TO LIVE.

 

WE HAVE A PURPOSE. And, the Lord gives us permission to discover what it is.

 

Who are you meant to help?

What were you called to build?

What needs to shift in order for you to feel alive again.

 

Let Him shock your system!

 

You might need to do something different.

Maybe you need to hear a podcast or read a book. Maybe you need to take up a new hobby. You might need to start a business, relocate or do some traveling. Whatever it is, it is meant to breathe new life into what seems to be your lifeless situation.

 

Experiencing trauma is never easy. It takes time to heal. There is a process that you will have to undergo to fight your way through to newfound freedom, but let 2020 be the year where you believe in the impossible. That you tackle those beliefs that you’ve taken up over the years. That you lay down the lies you’ve allowed yourself to become friends with.

 

Make the decision not to be at war with God, within yourself and with others.

 

I pray that as you enter into the New Year, that you will experience the joy of the Lord. His Peace and His Love. That the Lord’s Mercy and Compassion would be shown towards you, and that you would be made whole.

 

You are God’s valued creation, his sons and daughters (those whom He loves and protects.)

He will meet you where you’re at if you let him.

 

So don’t doubt His ability to restore that which is broken. Instead, let him shine the light of His word into every dark area of your life until everything is illuminated.

 

Leave the pain, and take what was good.

Leave the guilt, and take the lessons learned.

Understand the feelings but don’t let them rule you any longer.

 

God Bless You.

The Lord keep you.

May you enter into the New Year with a refreshed heart and mind!

 

Always remember that there’s a lot to look forward to but you gotta be here to see it 😉❤️

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