17 May From Here (How to turn your Setback into a Comeback) part 23
Today we jump back into our key verse for this series from I Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice evermore.” In this short but powerful Scripture, we discovered the Greek word translated “evermore” literally means “from this point on”. In everyday language, it means “from here”.
Then we began to share with you “13 Facets to Live a Constructive Life”:
- Part from Pity (Phil. 2:14).
- Never let your tragedy become your identity (Mark 5:26).
- You can’t unscramble eggs (Eph. 5:16).
- What we know is always more important than how we feel (Eph. 6:13-14).
- Never let go of what you do know because of what you don’t know (Matt. 11:5-6).
- Never compound bad decisions with more bad decisions (Rom. 6:19).
- Life is not about “What ifs” but “What now?” (II Sam. 12:18-24).
- Learn to Fail Forward (Phil. 3:13-14).
This week we continue with…
9. Get back into motion (Ps. 126:6).
Here the Bible tells us, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” I remember many years ago a precious Bible School student approached me with an extremely important question. You see, she was in her 60’s and her husband had recently died. She and her 20-year old granddaughter decided they would attend World Changers Bible Institute together. This special grandma was still emotionally processing the death of her husband.
One day in class she heard me telling about how Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (see Isaiah 53:4) and that God does not want us depressed but continually full of joy (see Phil. 4:4). Quietly she approached me one day after class and said, “Pastor Jim, in light of the death of my husband, how do I know the difference between healthy and unhealthy grief?” I didn’t want to give her a flippant answer, so I said, “Let me chew on that for awhile and I’ll get back to you.”
I believe it was that night the Lord clearly gave me that Scripture, “He that goeth forth weeping…”. All of a sudden a flash of revelation came across my spirit and I could see the healthy balance. There is nothing wrong with crying as you recount the memories you have when a loved one dies. The problem only occurs when those memories stop you from going forth.
Now I want to tell you what I told this precious widow. Any emotion or memory that stops you from going forth…in your walk with God and His assignment for your life…resist! There is nothing wrong with crying unless it stops you from going forth! King David had his little boy tragically die. However in II Samuel 12:20 in the midst of that death, “David arose”. This augments our aforementioned Scripture in Psalm 126:6. David knew he had to get back into motion and go from here. Please allow me to share with you “5 Motion Mandates”:
- Don’t substitute busyness for healing (Matt. 14:12-14).
Here the Bible tells us, “And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
Here Jesus’ cousin and ministry partner, John, had just died and Jesus heard the awful news. His first reaction was not one of isolation (see Proverbs 18:1 in the New King James) but getting alone with God for emotional healing. Then he went forth (He got back into motion) and healed the multitude. You can’t give what you don’t have and you can’t throw a lifesaver to anyone if you are drowning yourself. I watch a lot of people walk through some tragic situation or setback and they bury themselves in busyness…ignoring the pain. Just because you put a band aid over a deep wound, doesn’t mean the wound isn’t still there. Remember this: Hurting people hurt people, but whole people help people.
Join us next week as we continue to go “From Here!”