Lysa TerKeurst | 2010 November

Tuesday, November 30

Is my pain talking?

Have you ever been in a situation where something little felt really big? Like a look from someone that suddenly makes you feel they don’t like you at all. Or when someone doesn’t return your phone call and you feel like it’s an indication that you’re not important.

Usually these things aren’t true.

The look was just a look with no hidden meaning.

The missed phone call was just a slip on their to do list.

But, if we’re not careful, those misguided feelings can create issues that distract us, discourage us, and trigger past pain to start taunting us.

It happened to me last Friday. My sister, Angee, and I got up at 3am and were in line at a certain retail establishment at 3:30 am. I know. I agree. That’s crazy.

But like a hunter stalking his prey, I was after something. You see, I’ve been having this little issue with my washing machine where my just washed clothes come out still dirty. That’s sightly problematic when your people are teenagers that like to wash their clothes after EVERY wearing.

It’s not so problematic for me.

I’m the queen of rewearing stuff. Doesn’t bother me a bit.

But not my children. They are a little over the top about their definition of clean. My sister has this same overactive cleaning situation going on. My mom calls it her “AC/ DC.” Um, no, Mom, that’s a rock band. It’s called OCD. Anyhow.

At the 3:30 am hour, there we stood. I was after the buy one get one free washer and dryer. Angee was after a half price computer. When the store doors opened at 5am we both scored. Happiness abounded.

Then we left to get some breakfast. This is the part of the story where the happiness faded.

In the drive-thru, my credit card was “not approved.”

Let me get this straight. It WAS approved at the store just 5 minutes ago where I made a major purchase. But now for a little $2 bundle of egg, cheese, Canadian bacon and English muffin- suddenly I’m NOT approved?

NOT approved.

Not APPROVED.

Ouch.

My sister wasn’t phased by the situation a bit. She whipped out cash, paid for my breakfast and headed to the next store on our list.

But those words, “not approved” hung like a black cloud over my head. It bothered the stink out of me. I knew it was just some sort of clerical glitch but that’s not what it felt like.

When that girl leaned out of the drive-thru and in a hushed tone said, “I’m sorry ma’am but your card keeps coming up as not approved,” it felt personal. Really personal.

Suddenly, my past pain started running its mouth. “You’re nothing but a loser. You are unwanted. You are unloved. You are so disorganized. You are poor. You are not acceptable. You are not approved.”

Do you see how those small things can suddenly feel so big. Do you see the subtle shift happening? It went from my credit card being not approved to ME being ‘not approved.’ And had I left my heart to wallow in that mess, it could have- probably would have- wrecked my whole outlook that day.

Praise God, I have enough truth stored up inside of me, that I recognized what was happening. I realized my past pain was talking and needed to be brought back under the authority of Truth. Those old feelings have no business running rampant in my mind and my heart.

“We take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

“Whatever is true… think on such things,” (Philippians 4:8).

“Set your hearts on things above, set your minds on things above,” (Colossians 3:1-2).

My feelings were indicating my soul was a little hungry for some truth. So, I feed it truth. And I starved it of the lies begging to get down deep inside and mess me up.

After a quick call to the credit card company and an assurance from us that we were actually the ones buying a washer and dryer at 5am- all was well.

After the company was assured of the truth, my credit card was once again approved.

But even better, after being assured with THE TRUTH, so was I.

weak places, Strong Places

We all have them. Weak places. Places inside us that make us wonder if we’ll ever get it together like the together people. Places that make us feel less than. Less than victorious. Less than a conqueror. Less than strong.

My weak places frustrate me. And yet I refuse to resign that they can’t ever change. With the power of Christ all things can be made new. All broken things are subject to restoration. But sometimes I get so tired of trying and I just feel weak.

A weak place surfacing is like flipping the drain in the bathtub. My whole world can feel full and warm and clean until that little lever is pulled. The comfort of the warm bath is sucked away from me leaving behind a cold, hard, residue filled space. Cold, hard and residue filled is exactly what those weak places make me feel inside.

I don’t know if this makes sense to anyone. But maybe it does.

What is your weak place? A money situation that seems impossible? A marriage issue that frustrates you to your core? A temper that flares? An insecurity that stings? A family dysfunction that is always brewing? A food issue that rages especially at the holidays?

All weak places seem to be magnified by the holidays. Why is that?

So, can I breathe a little life into your weakness today? Whatever it is, however large it may loom…

“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express,” (Romans 8:26).

We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have to make suggestions to God. It’s okay to be so tired of our weak places that we run out of words to pray.

And listen to the beautiful verses written to us Jesus girls tucked all around this verse about weak places…

“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1).

“You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit,” (Romans 8:9).

“If God is for us, who can be against us,” (Romans 8:31).

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” (Romans 8:37).

Maybe we need to sit still for just a moment or two today. Quiet, without the weight of condemnation or the swirl of trying to figure things out. Quiet, with nothing but the absolute assurance the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

He knows what to pray. He understands our weak places. There is a purpose to this weak place. Though it doesn’t feel good, things will be worked out in a way that good will come from it, (Romans 8:28).

In that quiet stillness while the Spirit prays for us and we just simply soak in truth, there will be a flicker of light. A slight trickle of hope. A grace so unimaginable, we’ll feel His power overshadowing our weakness. Even the smallest drop of God’s strength is more than enough to cover our frailties, our shortcomings, the places where we deem ourselves weak.

And we’ll reject that title.

We aren’t weak.

We are dependent. Dependent on the only One powerful enough to help us. The only One sufficient enough to cover us in grace throughout the process.

Our relationships may not be sufficient. Our circumstances may not be sufficient. Our finances may not be sufficient. Our willpower may not be sufficient. Our confidence may not be sufficient. But He is and has been and forever will be.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So instead of wallowing in my weak place, I will let the Spirit reveal the one positive step I can take today. I will wash away the condemnation with the warmth of His grace. I will receive His power. And I will rename the weakness, my strong place. “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Congrats to the following who won an advance release copy of ‘Made to Crave’ – Kathryn, Joy, and and SeeSawFaith! Please email Holly@Proverbs31.org to get your book!

Made to Crave video

One thing I am very thankful for this Thanksgiving is you… my bloggy friends. What a joy it is to have such a special community of friends gathering each day to process life together. Your comments are treasures to me. All of your words of wisdom and encouragement are a breath of fresh air. I learn so much from you.I hope you and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving.Without further ado… the book trailer for “Made to Crave”….

I am taking the rest of this week off to spend with my family. But, I wanted to give you all something kind of fun and snappy to look at this week while I’m getting my thankful on. And I wanted to have another contest.

I’m giving away 3 more Advanced Reader Copies of “Made to Crave.” (Read more about my new book by clicking here and here.) All you have to do to enter is tell me in the comments below that you watched the video.

And, if you like it and want to post it on your facebook, twitter (can you post videos on twitter?- I have no clue), on your own blog, or wherever- grab the code from YouTube and post away.

Tell me in the comments and you’ll double your chance of winning. Fun. Fun.

Congrats to Tanisha who won 2 copies of my book ‘Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl’ from last Thursday’s giveaway! Tanisha, please email Holly@Proverbs31.org to receive your books!