Anchored In Peace

Have you ever been torn down by the words of another person? Maybe it was by a friend who betrayed you or a loving spouse who spoke in anger. The hurtful words may even have come from someone in your church. Something happens to us when someone speaks negatively over us. The words are like daggers penetrating the recesses of our hearts.

I remember a time when we were pastoring our first church when a slew of negative words were being thrown our way. We were having a hard time there and a lot of hateful words were being spoken over us. One time, in particular, a board member came up to me and told me I was holding my husband back in ministry. If he fails, it is on me. Those words were very painful because I did everything I could to support my husband. It was hard for me to understand why someone would tell me something so hurtful.

I suppressed the pain and went on my way never dealing with the scars those words left on my heart. I convinced myself that anything seen as a flaw was going to be used against me. Unfortunately, this internalized negativity eventually led to depression, anxiety attacks, shingles, and a nervous breakdown making it difficult for me to fulfill my calling in the ministry.

Hurtful words were constantly being thrown our way. How many know that a person can only take so much before they break? Well, I broke. But, in the middle of my brokenness, God’s restorative touch was at work within me.

I Am Doing A New Thing

When I was barraged with the onslaught of negative words, I couldn’t function in the calling God had planned out for me. I kept holding on to the negative experiences of the past and found it impossible to move beyond the pain. But God led me to a verse that changed my life:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

God is saying to stop carrying the pain and baggage from yesterday. He can’t bring healing to the broken areas of our lives if we keep looking back. Listen, you are not the sum of what people say you are. Those words they speak to stop you in your tracks are used by the enemy to stop you from fulfilling your God-given purpose in life. Stop allowing the opinions of others to become a stronghold in your life.

We are not defined by our past struggles or past mistakes. God is up to something good in our lives and He wants to do a new thing in each and every one of us. Our past does not determine our future outcome. All too often, we go around carrying our past identity. We walk around wallowing in circumstances that may have caused us fear, depressions, worry, anger, bitterness, hurt, guilt or shame. We have defeatedly succumbed to the joy-stealers in our lives.

Living in the past hinders what God is wanting to do in our future. We can not move forward carrying with us the battle wounds from our past. God wants us to look ahead in faith and begin to perceive the new things He wants to do in each and every one of our lives.

Can You Perceive It?

Deuteronomy 30:3 MSG says:

“God, your God, will restore everything you lost; He’ll have compassion on you; He’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places you were scattered.”

This verse is a promise that God will bring restoration and newness to your life. The painful situations you have faced or are currently facing have not gone unnoticed by God. He sees the hurtful words that were spoken over you. And He sees every tear you have cried. God is going to pick up the broken pieces of your life and put you back together again.

I was reading a Joyce Meyer book and came across this statement she made: “God will put you back together right in front of the people who broke you.”

I love this! God is going to bring healing and restoration to your emotions and He is going to make sure that the ones who caused it are going to see your restoration. You’re not only going to recover, but you are going to flourish!

Joel 2:25 says: “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

The years that have been stolen from you because of the pain, abuse, or anxiety caused by other people are going to be restored back to you. The wasted blessings or unripened fruit for the years in which you mourned are going to be restored once more. You no longer need to live in the sorrows of yesterday because God is saying to you today that it is time for your restoration to take place!

Examples From the Bible of God’s Restoration

There are many examples from the Bible where God brought restoration to someone’s life and exalted them in the presence of their enemies. Two, in particular, come to mind.

First, Joseph was given a dream about his brothers bowing down to him. In their jealousy they sold him into slavery and left him for dead. He was falsely accused of rape, and thrown into jail. Joseph couldn’t foresee how his pain was going to lead to a greater purpose, but He trusted God in the midst of it.

In the end, Joseph was cleared of his false accusations and promoted to the throne. His brothers eventually came to him for help and didn’t even recognize him. It wasn’t until he pointed out who he was that they became afraid. He told them not to worry and he would help them.

What the enemy meant for harm in Joseph’s life, God turned it around for good and Joseph’s brothers were there to witness his promotion. (If you would like to read the whole story, it can be found in Genesis 37-50).

The second example of restoration in the Bible is a man named Job. After a series of horrible circumstances, Job is left with nothing. His friends were not very supportive in their advice and accused him of doing evil in the sight of the Lord. After all, God wouldn’t allow all of this calamity if Job was a righteous man.

In the end, God restored to Job good health and prolonged his days. He also restored Job’s fortunes back to him twice as much as he had before. Job’s family was restored back to him as well. He gave birth to 10 children. Seven sons and three daughters who were the most beautiful women in the land. ( Full story found in the Book of Job).

Many more people from the Bible have been restored in the presence of their enemies. King David, despite facing immense challenges and betrayal, found strength and redemption in his relationship with God, ultimately becoming an amazing leader. Naaman, a mighty warrior humbled by leprosy, experienced a miraculous healing after following the prophet Elisha’s guidance, showcasing God’s power to transform lives. Hezekiah, confronted with severe illness, turned to prayer and received divine healing, restoring his health and extending his reign. The Prodigal Son, after squandering his inheritance, returned home to a loving father who welcomed him back with open arms. If God can restore these men, can’t He restore you as well? Remember, no situation is beyond His ability to heal and renew.

Conclusion

God is making a way out of the wilderness you find yourself in today. The painful words you have been bound to are being broken off of you right now. Forget the former things and begin to perceive the new things God is doing in your life today. Where you may see hopelessness, despair, and joylessness, God is renewing with hope and joy. He is doing a new thing in your life even if you don’t perceive it.

I encourage you today to begin letting go of the former things that have you bound to the past. You can’t move forward into everything God has in store for you while looking backwards. God wants to give you new life and new direction. He is constantly at work in your life making the crooked paths straight and rough places smooth. Begin to walk in the liberty Christ came to give you.

Surrender your pain and the broken pieces of your heart to God today. Only He can make you new and will put you back together right in front of the people who hurt you.