The Cure: What If God Isn't Who You Think He Is And Neither Are You by Lynch John & McNicol Bruce & Thrall Bill

Author:Lynch, John & McNicol, Bruce & Thrall, Bill [Lynch, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780984757718
Publisher: Cross Section Ventures, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-16T17:00:00+00:00

I HAVE TO ADMIT SOMETHING HAPPENED.

God's provision for my healing always begins with my recognition that someone has sinned against me. I may want to skip this step for a variety of reasons. If I was sinned against as a child—abused, neglected or demeaned—I may not even remember or realize what happened.

Or I may fear losing control of the relationship if I admit my hurt. I think if I don't admit pain, no one will have control over me. Someone more articulate or powerful will not be able to manipulate me into believing I'm the guilty party.

Or I may want to deny that I have been hurt as a sign of my spiritual maturity. "This shouldn't bother me. I'll just move on." 11

But, I cannot forgive until I admit I've been sinned against. This is an invitation to stop hiding the sin someone else has committed against me. To forgive, I must admit what is already true.

I MUST GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACT DONE AGAINST ME.

The consequences of sin are usually worse—sometimes far worse—than the sin itself. In order to understand the effect a sin has on me, I need to connect with how that event is impacting my daily life. Have I experienced shame? Have I become fearful? Have I felt demeaned or devalued? Was I manipulated or shunned? Were there relational effects? Did I lose credibility or access with friends? Was my marriage affected? Did it impact my relationship with my children or people I work with? Did it affect my job, my income, or my future? Did I lose my position or influence? Has this changed how I see myself or my attitude towards love, trust, friendship... God?

This is hard work. To understand the consequences of the sin, I have to allow myself to feel the pain of my responses. This work is sacred, though. Harboring enables the sin that was committed against me to define me! No more. Remember, unresolved sins are buried alive, even the ones carried out against us. We must take our time. God is there, nodding and smiling at the courage coming from our trust in Him. This hard work prepares us to forgive.

I MUST TELL GOD WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

Now it's time to pour out my heart, telling Him, as best I can, exactly what has happened to me.

My old programming tells me He doesn't want to hear it. I might think, "No way! This is for over-emotional people. I don't do that stuff." I might think any rehearsal of the event is akin to wallowing in it. I am wrong.

I might cry, scream, run around the room, or drive out into the desert and howl like a coyote—whatever feels right—but I must excavate every effect and emotion I've buried about the sin against me. Every last bit. This is the mysterious, beautiful part of my interaction with God. It is reclaiming this truth of our relationship. "You care even more deeply and fully than I do. Enter into this.

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