Encouragement

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“Concrete Life Preservers”
By: Craig Clouston
If you were drowning which would you want me to throw you; a styrofoam-filled flotation device or a concrete block?
As a lifeguard-in-training one of the tests we had to complete was bringing a concrete block, weighing 25lbs, from the bottom of the diving well up twelve feet to the surface, lift it above our heads for five seconds while treading water, and then set it on the side of the pool without assistance. It was one of the hardest tests of my life and it left me exhausted.
The truth is that many of us tread water for years under the weight of burdens we were not meant to carry.
Some of us are drowning under the burden of guilt, shame, anger, resentment, and heartache.
We hang on to wounds that fester, grievances that cause bitterness, pain that could be dealt with yet we become familiar with them and can’t see our way clear to let go. We feel we were wronged. Our perception is that there was an injustice, whether intentional or unintentional.
Regardless of the who, what, how or when, these things weigh us down… physically, spiritually and emotionally. We devote time, thought and effort to the wound.
Satan loves it when we hang on to past hurts. It keeps the focus on the problem and we aren’t working toward a solution.
Forgiveness is not a favor we do for one another when we feel magnanimous. Grace is God’s unmerited love and favor. It is mercy wrapped in love, with the knowledge that we deserve something devastating and deadly.
Yet even with this knowledge we choose to hold onto the concrete block. Our Lifeguard reaches down in love and mercy to relieve us of our burden but we can’t seem to let go. We continue to tread water holding the block above our head in hopes of… in hopes of what?! Why is it so hard to forgive and give the block to Jesus without first hearing ‘I’m sorry’ or saying it ourselves when we know we should? What is it about us that allows our pride to steal our humility? What do we hope to achieve?
Brother Andrew prayed constantly for God to remove from him the need to be vindicated, and then silently smuggled bibles into China, Russia and Germany. He was persecuted tremendously and new he dare not resent those who persecuted him.
Our wounds and our sorrows are real and they hurt. But the pain won’t go away until we treat the wound.
When we get cut we know that the best thing to do is clean it out, disinfect it and then bandage the raw flesh, otherwise it will become infected and irritated, becoming inflamed. If left unattended it could lead to blood poisoning and possible amputation.
This poisoning happens spiritually when we don’t tend a spiritual wound. We intentionally allow ourselves to get to a point where we amputate the place in our heart that was wounded. We build a wall around it, thereby cutting it off from our spiritual body. But it’s still there and still wounded, untreated, behind all the blocks, weighing us down.
To reach out takes courage. The Enemy whispers, “But you were wronged! They don’t deserve your forgiveness. Hang on to your resentment, they’ll suffer and you will be vindicated. Make them pay for your forgiveness!”
Forgiveness was bought for us by One who could have said, “No.” It was an act of pure love and mercy, without which we were doomed to Hell.
How, having been shown such grace, can we do any less?
Unforgiveness does not hurt the one we intend it to, it only hurts the one it resides in.
Some wounds are deep and require professional assistance to root out. Some we can take to a Pastor, Church Leader or Christian friend. It can be difficult letting down our guard. But the benefits are freedom and peace, healing and forgiveness from the Father.
Jesus said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14, 15.
This is a spiritual law and we cannot expect it to work one-way or be one-sided. In forgiving we are relieved of two burdens; the pain in our heart and the ability to receive forgiveness from God. He’s reaching down. Let go of the block.

InHisServiceAlone.org

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