Date: 04/10/2023

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. Over the next three weeks, we will look at “ The Steps in Healing from Hurt.”

The church has the power to gather, encourage, and heal God’s beloved people. Hurt stems from experiencing someone abusing their power whether spiritually or naturally. The first step to healing is to define the hurt. Hurt never just go away! Time will not bring complete healing. Nothing happens if you have not clearly defined the offense. You can’t forgive something if you don’t know or are not able to articulate what the hurt is. You must give your heart to Jesus, letting Him become your Lord. You must forgive (release) the person who has hurt you. Matthew 5:23-24 reads, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first, be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift”. Hurt can affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The purpose of this step is not to harbor resentment. Instead, the initial process of healing hinges upon you naming the wrong behavior that occurred.

Apostle Paul gives us a simple model for healing hurt in II Corinthians 2:5-11. “But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted on many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”.

Looking back on hurt is not what God has called us to do (concentrating on situation) Philippians 3:13-14 tells us, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. Drawing us to look back at offenses and hurt is one of Satan’s tactics in keeping us spiritually immobilized. If we are consumed by the past it will hurt, we will come to a standstill in our Christian Walk. Brother and sisters there is nothing we can do to change the past. But do not allow the past to control your future or destiny.  Because God has created each one of us for a purpose.  Psalms 139:15-16, 14 tells us, “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. “ ⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”. Our main purpose is to glorify Him (Jesus Christ). Because letting go requires the personal discipline to resist the temptation to repeatedly fight the battles of the hurt and remain focused on the victory that awaits in the future. Until we find the true source of the hurt and turn it off through forgiveness, it will continue to cause negative emotions.  Until next week let us remember, “… with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop