WHAT DO YOU do when you get knocked down in life? Did you make a mistake? Have you been humiliated?
Maybe you were betrayed, or things didn’t go as you planned. Your reputation was tarnished.
You’ve been knocked down hard — maybe even for a while now. How can you possibly bounce back?
What’s going on inside you? Do you feel angry? Do you want to scream, cry, or maybe even hit something? Or maybe you want to curl up into a ball and wish the whole world away.
Your blood boils. You feel choked. You just want to die. What do you do in these moments of agony and self doubt? Can you even think about going to the Lord?
During these trials, a great spiritual battle unfolds. The enemy wants to drive you into a corner. Satan fans the flames of resentment, anger, and shame.
What will you do? Will you shut down? Will you lash out? And the hordes of hell rise up to push you away from God.
The tempter says, “You see? Hope is lost. Forget about faith. What’s the point? Just focus on your pain and hurt. Let that be your everything as it’s all you have.”
These dark, terrible moments are critical. In many ways, they define our character and our life experience. These moments of crisis show us how much we really need God.
So when the storm clouds gather, and it seems like all is lost — get moving.
Fight your way out of that corner. Run, strive, claw your way back to the Lord.
No matter how bad things seem, never, ever doubt — even for an instant — the mercy of God.
But you might ask, how do you do this, how do you fight? It’s so simple, yet so profound. It’s an ancient method used time and again by the people of God.
You cry out. You cry out to God. You cry out to your Creator from the depths of your soul.
These episodes are never peaceful. Who can say they feel at peace when they’re in a difficult, dark place?
Instead, it’s a ferocious struggle. It’s full blown spiritual combat.
But the goal isn’t to hurt anyone or seek vengeance. Instead, you fight for restoration. It’s a battle for your soul.
Many times the sick, hurt, and downtrodden cried out to Jesus, and the people tried to silence them. But those in agony would not be silenced.
They fought even harder to be heard. They shouted loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So shout. Scream into a pillow or even out loud if you have to. Go to an open field and let loose your cry. Let out all your agony and all your pain.
This is not a cry of peace — but it is a cry for peace. So release your war cry against the lies of the devil. Call out to the Lord who fights for you and offers you salvation.
And just by crying out, things change. Why? Because the truth comes out, naked and pure.
And the truth says this:
“You know what God? I can’t take it anymore. It just hurts way too much. I’m injured. I’m damaged. I’m afraid and ashamed. The pain goes very, very deep. I never wanted this. I never asked for this.
But here I am before you. I have no other place to go. Nobody else can help me. It’s just you and me, O Lord. Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And with this cry of trust and abandoning yourself to God, the gates of heaven fly wide open. The mercy of the Lord flows out like a river towards you and through you.
All kinds of obstacles within you come tumbling down. Resistance to God’s grace and mercy melt away. And in your humility and vulnerability, you experience God’s supernatural power.
You expose the deepest parts of you to his all-healing, all-restoring love.
It’s a journey into the mystery of your wounds and the wounds of Christ.
His healing penetrates even deeper as you open your hurt up to him.
And after all the pain and suffering, after all the contradiction and resistance, after all the shame and confusion — you eventually discover much deeper truths.
You uncover heavenly treasures. You gain a clear vision.
You see Jesus on the cross. You see the risen Lord.
It’s a wide open place where your spirit roams free.
So in the most difficult times, cry out. Abandon yourself to the Lord.
Let him move you ever closer to your true humility — your true strength — and your everlasting peace with God Almighty.
. . . . . . .
And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Luke 18:40-43
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