I love that the Lord teaches me so many things in ways he knows my heart will learn them. It always astounds me that he’s so personal that way.
I’ve shared before that the Holy Spirit had given me a warning a few years ago that I’d be removed from ministry, I’d want to defend myself but was to keep silent. 8 months later when that happened, I immediately remembered my warning.
I’ve also shared that season was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I “heard” things about myself that I knew weren’t true. I let go of hurt I never dreamt would be wielded from the mouths of people I loved dearly. I grieved losses I never anticipated I would have.
I was also provided with hope in my loneliest season.
I was given joy in the midst of lying on my face in the floor crying out to the Lord.
This week, I asked the Lord “how much longer will I need to remain silent about this?” and so gently, he gave me a realization that my silence is about my obedience, yes, BUT my silence has also allowed me to learn to seek his approval over the approval of men.
Had I spent the past few years defending myself , it would only have been in service to “winning over” the opinions of those around me. While I love y’all…I also can tell you I’ve learned your opinions mean so very little in the grand scheme of things. (People pleasing is a TRAP of the enemy).
Having other people think/believe the worst in me regardless of the truth, regardless of what transpired, regardless of what the Lord spoke into my life doesn’t actually reflect poorly on me…it reflects on their own hearts.
I won’t stand in judgement before the Lord for all things others believed I did/didn’t do, assumed I did/didn’t do. I’ll be responsible only for my own actions, thoughts I didn’t take captive, and sin I didn’t crucify in Jesus.
I say all of this not to showcase how “great” I am (I’m not 🤣) but because it’s important for us, as Christians, to recognize that the Holy Spirit convicts us, God loves us enough to chastise us as his children, and you may not always get “justice” in the eyes of man. You can’t control that. You CAN control how you react, the amount of time you spend pouring your heart out to your father instead of anyone who listens, and the level of obedience you choose to walk in.
When someone wrongs you, take it to the Lord. You don’t need justification from another person.
Do I get that right every time? Nope.
I’ve realized that when I tell my circle every detail of every offense though, what I accomplish is potentially creating an offense in them toward another person too.
Does this mean we don’t share our lives? Not at all. We’re directed to share one another’s burdens but also not cause one another to stumble.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
Galatians 6:1-5 ESV
If the goal in sharing details is to share the burden for the purpose of praying over a situation or a person, THAT is what it is to bear burdens.
If the goal is to have someone agree with us in justification, we are seeking the approval of man and not the heart of the Father.
At the end of the day, if the entire world doesn’t approve of us but we are aligned to the heart of God…we are doing what we are called to do.
We have to live differently in order to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Our steps aren’t along the same path as the world.
Our way forward won’t be popular and it won’t always make sense to onlookers.
People will talk (it’s what people do in their flesh but can’t be what we do as Christians).
People will mock us.
People may even persecute us.
Seek the heart of the Father anyway. The impact we are driving isn’t in this world that is temporary, it’s kingdom eternal. (2 Peter 3 and John 16:33)
❤️
Just Between Me & Jesus 