When I woke up at 1 AM in unbearable pain one day on a family vacation.. I wa...
When I woke up at 1 AM in unbearable pain one day on a family vacation.. I waited about two hours before deciding to go to the hospital. During those two hours I took Tylenol.. I did different things I thought would help. When I arrived to the hospital and after a few tests quickly found out I needed an emergency surgery. They told me the Tylenol actually could've done more harm than good, but I just wanted immediate relief not realizing that my temporary fix was actually harming me more... there was no way I could put a bandaid on something that needed surgery.
I feel it's the same way when we're hurting emotionally, spiritually, mentally.. as Christian's we've been taught to crutch on statements like "faith it til you make it", and we've been taught that showing real feelings is a lack of faith. So we put bandaids of shame, bandaids of guilt, bandaids of "faith", bandaids of community and we wonder why we still feel so lonely??
Sometimes the Jesus journey is trusting that He's gonna be with us in that surgery of our hearts and heal the parts of us that no amount of retail therapy, food, and relationships with anyone can fix. I can't say I wasn't afraid as I was in the prep room before surgery.. but I can say I felt a peace that surpassed my understanding as I wheeled away. Jesus can heal the parts you put bandaids on. Like really heal you. You won't turn to alcohol another day for a sense of let down, you won't turn on TikTok and get lost in that world to get away from your reality. You won't seek the approval of man, because your Father can tend to the parts of your rejection that man created.
Friend, I know it hurts to take the bandaids off... I fully understand. If I was sitting with you right now I'd tell you that if you stop masking the pain, He can give you a Saul to Paul moment.
I'd tell you that what was done to you doesn't define what He'll do through you if you give Him that pain.
I'd tell you that your feelings of abandonment are real, but not the end. I'd tell you that you are not alone, you are so loved, and so seen. He sees you. He sees what's been done to you. He can be trusted. He can be trusted. He can be trusted. #MinutesWithMandy #DareToBelieve
