Meet Me In Rehab
“Rehabilitation is the process of returning to a healthy or good way of life.” – Cambridge Dictionary
Hello Dear Friend,
Have you felt like the deck has been stacked against you? I’m sure you have. I think just about everyone has at some point in their life. Well, this week I’ve definitely felt that way. It’s almost comical really, to see the cards I’m getting dealt at this point. As card after card flips over to reveal its value, my reaction, or lack thereof, has pretty much become a shake of the head as I smile or laugh and say that it doesn’t really surprise me at this point. With each new card I can’t help but smile as I hear my boss in my head half jokingly say, “It’s personal”.
It’s been an emotional and spiritually draining week to say the least. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around and it was time for me to leave the office I was pretty much mentally tapped. The thought of having the weekend to get some much needed restoration was a major comfort as I made my way across the wet parking lot in the pouring rain to the sanctuary of my car.
Hope and peace have been some big words for my life since early November 2023. These words have been highlighted in my life throughout the past few months, in various materials I’ve read, by people I’ve heard, and even in the sentences I’ve spoken or written. It’s in the remembrance of these two words that I’ve come to the realization this week that I need some rehabilitation to take shape in my life. No, no, I’m not saying I need to be checked into some facility, be placed on a suicidal watch, or anything like that. I’m talking about the rehabilitation that takes place when you allow God full access and control over your life and live in the assurance and the abundance of His goodness.
Earlier this week I realized that God is not just a wonderful provider but He is my Physical Therapist, my Psycho Therapist, and my Spiritual Therapist. As any therapist does with their client, God teaches me to persevere and to push past the boundaries of my comfort levels. Like in any form of therapy, doing the work and enduring the pain and discomfort is part of what’s necessary for a positive outcome.
Working Through The Hard Stuff
Part of the rehab is putting your trust in someone else who knows what you are going through better than you do. It’s trusting in someone who genuinely wants to see you succeed and rise above the bondage. It’s willingly opening yourself up to help and humbling yourself enough to actively submit to the authority of another, giving them the access to control those certain areas of your life when you begin to see your freedom unfold.
When you truly are willing to submit to God you are saying; “I believe Your plans for me are far better than anything I can imagine for myself. I’m activating my faith and choosing to put my trust in You.” In doing so, you allow your faith to become bigger than your emotions. It’s in your submission to God that you confess and believe that God is bigger than any situation you’re up against. The truth is, what God has planned for you is so much bigger than what you could ever plan or think up for yourself. When you submit to Him and allow Him access to every part of your life He will be faithful to carry out those plans He dreamed for you while He was creating you in your mother’s womb. You receive hope and peace from God when you fully trust in His promises for your life. God fights for you. He loves you. He wants the best for you. You can trust and believe that He will never leave you alone or lead you to destruction. It’s in Him that you find your rest because He is your ultimate strength and security.
Spiritual Growing Pains
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted; but they know who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:28-31, (ESV)
God knows that the waiting is hard and difficult for me to handle at times. Jesus get’s it. He Himself faced the same mental and emotions exhaustion that I do. During His earthly walk Jesus experienced the same things I face today, He felt the same feelings, and He cried out to the same Heavenly Father that I do. How do I know that He know this? Because He carried it, all the way up to the cross. As the nails held Him to that tree, He held every emotional thought, every weakness, every mental and physical pain, every trial, every form of bondage, and every spiritual test that I would ever face.
Yes, I’m currently running a race of endurance and trying to stay focused on God’s strength instead of my weakness. My perseverance is fueled by my hope in my living God. My peace rests on my foundation in Jesus Christ. He knows that I’m trying my best to push through the exhaustion. He knows that I’m experiencing spiritual and emotional discomfort in the waiting. And He knows that I’m currently fighting to look beyond my present circumstances.
Sweet Faith, Be Faithful To Me
“And my God will supple every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
Below is a personal prayer I jotted down in my journal earlier in the week for hope and perseverance:
Lord thank You, that You are my Physical Therapist, my Psycho Therapist, and my Spiritual Therapist who gives me the perseverance to push past my comfort levels. I know that enduring discomfort and pain is part of what’s necessary for a good outcome. Thank You, for protecting me from the temptation of quitting the work because the pain feels too heavy. I thank You, for the rehabilitation process taking place even now that’s at work to strengthen those weak points. I thank You, that I get to have peace in these troubled times because You are my living and everlasting hope. Your grace over this child abounds and I can keep my head up; moving boldly with confidence through the spiritual and emotional discomfort because my hope and trust is built on You – my solid rock. Thank You, for helping me persevere and grow in ways I could never imagine. Amen.
With love,
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