The Worth Of Knowing

It matters how we talk to ourselves about our hurt.

There’s a difference between saying “it isn’t that bad” or “that’s just the way it is” and saying “I am living in lies that I’ve let shape my life, but God is stronger than the lies and has protected me.”

One acknowledges both the reality of the fallenness and the grace of God in our lives. The other keeps both at a distance.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ESV

The lies we form to protect ourselves in times of pain are often what keep us from obeying God today. They are the perspectives and beliefs that keep us from knowing God personally. They are often the strongholds we need divine power to destroy.

Especially when the lies are prominent in our lives we have to invite God to go back with us to where they started and ask Him for eyes to see the truth. Because the pain we experienced is real and God’s love for us is real too. With Jesus we get to see the experiences from an eternal perspective when in the moment we could only see them from a perspective of survival. We can feel hope where before only felt fear. We can remember the experiences differently and find that the lies are no longer necessary where God’s love reigns.

Strongholds are broken. Arguments, opinions, and lies about God (and ourselves) are submitted to a deep, personal knowledge of our King and Father. We live more consistently with Who God is and who we are … which is also what living in obedience looks like.

It matters how we talk to ourselves about our pain. God doesn’t need us to minimize our pain for Him to be King in our lives. It’s in our weakness that His power really shines.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬