How Do We Wisely Use the Past?

There is one thing every person has in common - we cannot change our past.   Many people feel shadowed by their unhappy past and try hard to minimize it, justify it, use it as an excuse for poor choices, or repress it completely.    Others have had blessing upon blessing and are well-equipped to handle life's challenges.   

People who fall into the latter group, no matter how kind life has been, still do not escape unscathed.   Everyone has hurts and pains to some degree, right?    Disappointments, grudges, regrets, grief, failures, heartbreaks, guilt, feeling misjudged, etc.    When someone uses phrases like "raw deal", "hard luck", "tough break", "hot water", "Catch-22" and so forth we can relate since we have "been there" emotionally and psychologically.    

So are the injuries of the past an enemy that keeps us enslaved or can we regain lost ground and come out - not necessarily completely uninjured - but more resilient, more perceptive, and a lot wiser?  

Timothy Keller offers the following prayer, "Lord, you are the ultimate teacher of wisdom.  You sat with your disciples and taught them in parables.  Now help me learn wisdom from my experience."

Proverbs 4:25-26 advises, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways." 

Although we cannot forget the past completely, it is unwise to stay "stuck" in it.   Feelings of resentment and lack of forgiveness are understandable at times, but we must let go of the safety rails (e.g. self-sufficiency, substance abuse, control issues) and surrender to God.  Safety rails may feel safe out of their familiarity; however, they are not really safe and never lead us to a place of security.   

God will take us down a path toward healing and discernment when we let go.  That emotional energy has to go somewhere and since we cannot change history we can only move forward.   The hurt needs a legitimate outlet that is future-focused and filled with hope.  In turn, we can become empowered to turn the "bad" of the past into a force for good toward others and a source of growth for ourselves.    

What safety rails are you hanging onto?   

















Source:  God's Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy Keller

Let Steadfastness Have Its Full Effect

I wrote a verse from James in my journal recently.   I've read the entire verse many times but I have never really thought about the particular phrase "let steadfastness have its full effect".   The passage reads: 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  James 1:2-4

What a standard!  Perfect?  Lacking nothing?  In just typing these words I am conscious of all the things I lack (e.g. profound insight, awesome writing skills, unselfishness).   Since perfection is impossible,  James must have meant something else.  So I turn to some helpful resources to figure out what is meant by "steadfastness" and what it's effect is supposed to be.    

Steadfastness in this sense is the Greek word "hypomone" which is translated as patience, endurance, or perseverance.   The full effect is "teleios", or something which is brought to its end/maturity/lacking nothing for completeness.    Faithfulness, through all sorts of trials, works in us to produce a remarkable patience and ability to persevere which leads to spiritual maturity (i.e., Christlike character).  

The phrase "that you may be" implies a state of being, not just something that happens to us supernaturally and then fades away when all is well again.  Its an inward transformation of character.    As such, we become complete, or "holokleros", meaning we have no blemish or defect.   

Since we are loaded with blemishes and defects, God gave us a loophole.   Romans 8:1-2 says"...there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death".  

In short, we're to  "let" perseverance by faith change our character so that we become spiritually mature and possess Christlike character traits.   This is a life long process and a mission that will not be fully accomplished until we see Christ face to face.   

I think of Jesus' words in John 3:21 when he tells Nicodemus, " But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

I am encouraged when I read these verses because, at the end of my life  I want to be able to look back and say, "This (whatever that may be) is what the Lord has done."   In other words, I want it to be obvious that the Lord has used my life in a way that glorifies his name and brings about things that only he can do.  My task, then, is to not get in his way and "let steadfastness have its full effect".    

Truth Dispels Darkness

When Paul listed the parts of God's armor in Ephesians 5 he was preparing us for spiritual warfare.   Christian counselors come alongside hurting people to help fight this battle.    
People often come to counseling with what I think of as a "tangled ball" of emotions, fears, and false beliefs.   Counselors help their counselees sort out these issues and, hopefully, lead them to the freedom found in a relationship with God through faith in Christ.  

Not everyone will be reception to the gospel of course; however, Christian counselors trust in the work of Holy Spirit and know the He is the one who softens hearts and opens eyes.   Interestingly, people are often not aware of their own feelings or beliefs.  For example, someone may acknowledge anger and resentment but not realize that he carries a deep sense of shame and guilt.  Another person may find fault with everyone else and remain unaware that she believes she is unlovable.   

The counselor, with Christlikeness,  provides a safe haven for people to explore these issues in the light of God's love and grace.   Secular counselors certainly help people "feel better", but this state of being is only temporal.  Salvation through Christ, freedom from sin and Satan's deceptions, sanctification, spiritual maturity, mental and physical health: these are the goals of Christian counseling.   

Truth, through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's Word, dispels darkness.