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It was the first day of spring and my husband and I were out horseback riding. Snow and spring ice still scattered the landscape. My horse decided he did not want a rider and he suddenly reared up on his hind legs. The spring ice was not a good spot for such a balancing act and over he went with me under him! We still marvel that I was not crushed to death!

I seldom think of that frightening afternoon anymore. But every now and then the memory is refreshed on rare days when the old injury to my rib bothers me. A bump or bruise causes that old injury to remind me that it’s there.

The same happens with old injuries to our spirit. Things far distant in our past… harsh words, actions, or misjudged situations of long ago, often surprise us with fresh pain when an emotional bump or bruise comes unexpectedly.

Sharon shared with me how she had forgiven her father for the rejection she felt as a young girl. Her adult mind could now comprehend some of her father’s own pain and God’s love in her heart had made what seemed impossible, possible. She could forgive him for his actions and his harsh words.

But she continued to find herself in unhealthy relationships with men. Always living in fear of rejection, she found herself making compromises that left her disappointed in herself. She realized she felt shame in the depth of her soul and it was affecting her life far beyond the long ago words and actions of her father. She began to realize that she had believed lies about herself as a result of those words and actions.  I shared with her this promise from God’s Word and hope sprang afresh in her heart…

“  … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 1:6).

When God touches your life and begins a good work in you, He is committed to you. He promises to carry on the good work in your heart until it is completed. God can not only help you forgive, but He will continue on to help you root out the shame and the lies that keep you from being all God meant you to be.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You promise to continue to work in my heart. Thank you that You enable me to forgive harsh words and actions against me. Father God, I realize today that as a result of those words and actions I began to believe lies about myself. Lies that I was unlovable & undeserving of love. Father God, today I ask that You would help me to reject those lies and their resulting shame. Show me every place I have believed a lie about myself. I accept Your love and Your healing and I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you that You will carry on to completion the healing of my heart. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Questions: What hurts are you harboring in your heart? What step could you take to start the healing process of your soul?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, He Has Not Deserted Me, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

**Do you doubt that God truly loves you? God desires for you to walk closely with Him and communicate with Him throughout each day. http://thelife.com/study/knowjesuspersonally.html?section=lesson2&ft=BSG-OS

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Often we look to friends and family members to meet our needs instead of to God. When we look to family or friends we’ll inevitably be disappointed. Then self-pity, resentment and bitterness will set in, on both sides.

God knows our needs for love and affirmation and He has infinite ways of meeting them.

At a recent visit, I watched as my daughter was showing a friend some family photos. Great, I thought, until I noticed that there wasn’t a single photo of me. How typical, I thought. Once more I’ve been left out of the collection. Just as I was about to give in to a full dose of self -pity, a beautiful monarch butterfly landed on my lap. It flexed its wings and put on a little show for me.

God, did you send the butterfly to show me that I am loved? I mused. It must be, for I’ve never had it happen before that a monarch butterfly chose my lap as a landing place. As I allowed my thoughts to follow the path of love, the earlier feelings of rejection melted away.

This incident taught me that we have a choice, at any given moment, to focus on the negative or the positive. One leads to frustration and pain, the other leads to freedom and joy.

When I had decided to settle my thoughts on love, a solution to the above problem formed in my mind: I’ll get my camera and ask this friend to take photos of my daughter and me.

~Father, Thank you that You know my weakness and my brokenness and that You have promised to meet all my needs.

Questions: How is God wanting to meet your need right now? It will always come as a surprise, but you must be aware of the moment and latch onto it.

About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/helen-lescheid/

Her mom dropped her off at our house on Friday and my step-daughter started sobbing. Later, her mom said that she just wanted to come to our house for a few hours on our weekends. She told us that she had never felt comfortable with us and that she hated it at our house.

I just can’t believe this all came up so suddenly. Her mom is going to take her to a counselor but is this something that is common? I refuse to believe she has always hated it with us. I always thought everything was great and now to be blind-sided by this and she can’t even give us any specifics.

This is very troubling for you and your husband but, it is obvious that his daughter is going through a traumatic time in her life. For some reason she may be going through separation-anxiety. I would suggest that you and your husband see a counselor to work through the feelings and rejection you are feeling. You can find a counselor.

You can’t do anything at this time to help your step-daughter. You don’t know what she is experiencing during the times she is away from you. She sounds deeply troubled and needs counseling. I would suggest that at some point you ask to see her counselor with her once she has been in counseling for awhile. The counselor may be able to act as a mediator and advocate to help restore your relationship.

Don’t push yourselves on this girl. But, make sure you let her know you want to see her when she feels ready. Call her at least once a week and write to her. This will give her reassurance that you care and aren’t forgetting about her.

She doesn’t understand what she is doing or why she is having these symptoms. Something has occurred to make her feel depressed and anxious. She may now be regressing and feeling symptoms from the divorce. She may be feeling very angry towards her father (your husband) because of the divorce. Hang in there. Read about children of divorced parents to help you understand her. I hope you find this helpful.

©2004 by Lynette J. Hoy, NCC, LCPC

Many people are saddled with guilt. We know that the answer isn’t denial, but where does relief come from? How can we accept the truth of being guilty without being constantly bombarded with guilty feelings?

Peter, one of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus, is an example of someone who blew it big-time. He claimed to be Jesus’ most loyal follower. He swore he would follow Jesus even to death. But when the chips were down, Peter denied Jesus in an attempt to save his own skin, even after Jesus predicted that it would happen. Peter rejected his best friend – would Jesus, in turn, reject him?

Answer:You may be wondering what happened to Peter. He’s the one who sliced off a soldier’s ear in the garden when they came to arrest Jesus. He’s also the one who, a little later, denied knowing Jesus three times.

When we last saw Peter, he was looking deep into the eyes of the friend he had just betrayed. Imagine the anguish in his soul at that moment! He had given up everything he had to follow Jesus, and he had promised to stick by him, even to death if necessary. And now he had crumbled when it mattered most. Overcome by sorrow and broken by the pain he had caused his Lord, he stumbled away in tears … and then promptly disappears from the story. Whatever became of him?

Peter’s story is awesome news for those of us who feel like screw ups. He is proof that failure is not the end of the story when it comes to God. You see, after Jesus came back to life, he and Peter had a little seaside meeting (see John 21). Three times, Peter had denied Jesus. Now, three times Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?”

“You know that I love you, Lord,” Peter answered each time, his voice cracking. And Jesus did know it. He not only forgave Peter, but he gave him a new job: “Feed my sheep.” Jesus asked Peter to lead and care for his people after he was gone. Peter went on to introduce thousands of people to Christ, he wrote two books of the Bible, and he was possibly the most respected and influential leader of the early church. He died a martyr’s death because of his rock solid faith in Jesus.

Do you feel like you’ve really blown it? Do you feel unacceptable or useless in God’s eyes? Then do what Peter did. Seek forgiveness and restoration. Take Jesus up on his promise: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

Further reading:
Experience true love and forgiveness
Who was Jesus anyways?