"Therefore, since we are talking surrounded by such a large crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)
The world is watching our race and sometimes the weight we strip off is heartache. Disappointment. Bitterness that fights to set in and seize our soul. These sentiments will not propel us on our path toward Home, they will only handicap our pace. We must ask the Holy Spirit for healing, because our contest is Kingdom critical.
I have a scar on the back of my right hand. It’s been there since fifth grade and I rarely give it a second thought. For whatever reason, it caught my attention the other morning while I was putting on my makeup. As I considered the familiar knit of once-torn tissue, the Spirit spoke quietly and clearly: “Eventually scars just become a part of our story.”
There’s a point where what hurts today won’t hurt any longer. The red angry flesh calms down, the scab heals over and the skin only bears a faint recollection of the ugly gash which once was. Someday it will simply be a shadow of an injury that happened long ago. We can hurry along our healing by cooperating with the mercy of God: forgiving others, forgiving ourselves.
Today I’m able to picture it: this sorrow, this heartache, simply folded into the fabric of my being and no longer aching. Forgiveness is the only way to accomplish such a folding. Forgiveness is the systematic shedding of disappointment and blame until our heart is freed up to run after God fully again. It’s fixing our eyes on Jesus and stretching to stay in His footfalls, sure that the joy set before Him belongs to us also.
Shed the weight. Let go of the hurt. Disappointment does serve us well. Have an Elsa moment and let it go so we can run into the beautiful future that awaits every believer. Don’t let pain put you on the sidelines, cling to Christ instead.
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the campion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)
Lord, we acknowledge that life hurts. Sin bullies and wounds and bruises our souls. Yet we are encouraged: someday these scars will simply be a part of our story. Help us stay the course. Assist us in the forgiveness process. May we rightly acknowledge our contribution and the contribution of others and, in turn, let it all go. Send Your Holy Spirit to aid us in the aftermath as we put every offense under the blood. Heal us as we follow hard after You, determined to finish the race and bring You glory. Amen.