Let Go of the Hurt

TELL GOD WHERE IT HURTS…

"In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry," Ephesians 4:26

Oftentimes, we spend so much time in our minds because of hurt, we miss out on living in the present, where God has unspeakable pleasures to offset the adverse effects of any hurt we might experience. Many of us waste precious time that could have been spent cultivating thought to move us closer to God’s destiny for our lives. Constantly remembering the hurt hinders us from receiving an orchestrated healing that only God can provide. Instead, it builds and fortifies a wall of anger. The wall blocks our view and misconstrues the matter after multiple replays of the hurtful incident in our minds. Be aware of unfruitful thoughts that arise in your mind to block the healing process. We have permission to be angry at hurt but not to sin against ourselves as well as against others (Ephesians 4:26). The question arises, “How do I sin against myself when I am the one who has been afflicted?” Simply stated, sin is missing the mark. God establishes the mark or standard to determine the boundary of behavior that’s pleasing in His sight. Anytime we invest time and energy in activities that do not bring about the will of God in our lives, we sin against ourselves as well as God. Choosing to constantly remember the circumstances around a hurt rather than moving beyond the hurt is a form of self-inflicting pain. It is the failure to realize one’s value from God’s perspective that opens the door to self-inflicted pain from many sources, including what others do to us and what we do to ourselves. 

Eventually, some seek the avenue, intentionally or unconsciously, to bury the hurt deep enough within themselves, allowing them to take steps into a future to pass the hurt. However, this is only a temporary fix.  Along with the hurt, the associated anger remains deep inside, unresolved. We must endeavor to let go of anger that binds us, to be free to let go of hurt. It is in the action of letting go that healing can flow vigorously, rather than in a drip-drop manner, if at all. 

“Letting go of anger loosens the mental shackles that would keep us tied up indefinitely"_ASA