June 19, 2007 3:28 PM
Elisabeth Elliot on on how we respond to pain
I so love this woman and her insights.
For me personally, forgiving people who were supposed to love me and protect me has not been difficult, especially since I became a Christian and realized how far short of perfect I fall myself. Because I suffered terrible abuse as a child, I found the story of Joseph resonated with me: while others may have meant harm, God has used it all for good.
When I think of those who hurt me I feel only compassion - they must have been very hurt themselves to inflict such pain on little children. Sisters, believe me, whatever pain you've experienced is no greater than that experienced by all who live in a world of sin.
You know, the same grain of sand that can injure your eye can also be used by the oyster to make a beautiful pearl. The things that hurt us can make us bitter or better.
If there's anything in your life that's been making you bitter, maybe reading the following bit of inspiration will be the beginning of a fresh start!
Wounds Can Change Your Heart
Living in a world broken by sin, we suffer wounds of many kinds. Perhaps the most painful are not the physical ones but those of the heart. No one has power to hurt us more deeply than somebody we love, somebody we counted on to understand and support us. But there are two ways to receive wounds. One leads to larger life. The other leads straight to death, that is to destruction--of those we influence as well as of ourselves.
By grace we can receive the wounds of our friends as our Master received them--in the strength and for the glory of our heavenly Father. Being sinners ourselves, however, we need to be brought low at the cross. Nothing will do this better than some piercing heart-wound, provided we seek Christ because of it and pray Him to purify us.
There is another way--the world's way. It is anger, resentment, retaliation, retreat into pride and self-justification. These are quite natural, and quite lethal. The choice is ours.
"The wound which is borne in God's way brings a change of heart too salutary to regret, but the hurt which is borne in the world's way brings death" (2 Cor 7:10 NEB).
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Comments
I love to think of forgiveness as a choice. You can choose to hate and to be resentful, or you could choose to forget and heal. Sigh. It's not as easy as that, is it? Sometimes hurt just hurt so much. But we are commanded to forgive too. And we have to pray that we can.
Posted by: Janet | June 19, 2007 5:02 PM
Janet, you expressed that so well. You can only forgive like that when God has forgiven you.
I just watched the movie about the 5 missionaries to the Auca indians, "Beyond Gates of Splendor". Elizabeth Elliott's husband was one of those men. It is such a moving and challenging movie. I am still meditating on the lessons it teaches.
I love Elizabeth Elliott, too. I feel like I know her, and I've never met her. Barbara you have the same effect. I feel like you are a close friend.
I'll stop rambling. Thanks for the blog.
Becky
Posted by: Becky | June 19, 2007 7:06 PM
Barbara: this was such an inspiration to me yesterday; see, I was offended and embarrassed by an in-law on Sunday; the comment was directed at my husband but it implied that I was bossing my husband around and that he was and always has been my slave. Since I strive to honor and respect my husband, I was appalled by such comment. I spent the rest of the day, as well as monday thinking of all the things I should/could have said; when I read EE I understood I was taking the wrong approach; my focus should not be about getting even or getting back at the offender; my focus should be on forgiveness and releasing myself from the grip of bitterness.
See, most likely the person who offended me, didn't even realize the depth of the words; this person spent the days without even thinking for a second of what happened; yet I was in pain, anger and turmoil.
Well, not anymore. I forgave. And moved on. All I had to do was bring my pain to the foot of the cross. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. After all, I have offended and embarrassed many people, so I am guilty of the same thing, so I can only extend to others the grace that has been extended to me.
And you are right, people who hurt others have been hurt many times themselves. Thanks a lot for this piece of inspiration.
Posted by: LadyLovas | June 21, 2007 7:58 AM
