Yesterday as I was listening to K-Love, a woman was telling her story of attempted suicide and the healing that has taken place since. I usually don't listen to such stories, but I did. And at the end she said this: My season was not my story.
I think I screamed a little when she said that and went "YES!" Then I repeated the phrase to myself until I got to a place I could write it down.
Friends, your season is not your story, unless you a) want it to be or b) you get stuck.
I think I need to focus on the getting stuck. Stuck is easy. We all too often go through something and then remember that something and then we can't STOP thinking about that something and we relive it over and over. I heard once that every time you repeat something that happened to you, in your own head, or others, it's like it's happening AGAIN. If you are a person who needs support and you tell 5 friends what you're going through, that's 5 times you have to relive your pain / problem. But I'm sure before you talk to those 5 people, you think about what happened first, so that's 10 times of reliving the moment. At least. And every time you go through that, you can get a little more stuck in that moment; a little more stuck in whatever emotional state happened to make that "season" start.
Are you stuck? Are you in a season of your life that you want to get out of, but you feel like you're being defined by it? Is your season becoming your story and you don't want it to?
Loves, look up. The only way I know of to get unstuck is to STOP thinking about whatever happened to begin the season you're trying to get out of. Have a trigger. If your brain puts you as the conductor of the negative thought train, realize it. Put on the brakes and think positive. The best way I know how to do that is memorize some Bible verses. They don't have to be long (so the ones below are a bad example :)). But they can put you on the offensive and be your best weapon against whatever not-so-nice thing you cant's stop reliving. The devil wants you stuck because in that place of non-movement, you can't do whatever God put you on this earth to do. Scripture is meant to arm you and protect you. If you haven't tried using it as your best defense (and offense), I beg of you to try!
Finally brothers, and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excelling or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new each morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17
God's word is meant to protect you. From the world and sometimes from yourself. Friends, God has a wonderful plan for you. He wants to write your story and help you find a new season; if you will only let him. He can't do that if you're stuck in a place where you can't see Him because your focus is stuck on the very season you wish you weren't in!
This season does not have to be your defining story. Your story is glorious and long and has many seasons. Your heavenly father did not intend for you to get stuck in an eternal winter (think Narnia, always winter - never Christmas). It's okay to move on. It's okay to continue your story in a new season. Your God wants to help you do that!
I think I screamed a little when she said that and went "YES!" Then I repeated the phrase to myself until I got to a place I could write it down.
Friends, your season is not your story, unless you a) want it to be or b) you get stuck.
I think I need to focus on the getting stuck. Stuck is easy. We all too often go through something and then remember that something and then we can't STOP thinking about that something and we relive it over and over. I heard once that every time you repeat something that happened to you, in your own head, or others, it's like it's happening AGAIN. If you are a person who needs support and you tell 5 friends what you're going through, that's 5 times you have to relive your pain / problem. But I'm sure before you talk to those 5 people, you think about what happened first, so that's 10 times of reliving the moment. At least. And every time you go through that, you can get a little more stuck in that moment; a little more stuck in whatever emotional state happened to make that "season" start.
Are you stuck? Are you in a season of your life that you want to get out of, but you feel like you're being defined by it? Is your season becoming your story and you don't want it to?
Loves, look up. The only way I know of to get unstuck is to STOP thinking about whatever happened to begin the season you're trying to get out of. Have a trigger. If your brain puts you as the conductor of the negative thought train, realize it. Put on the brakes and think positive. The best way I know how to do that is memorize some Bible verses. They don't have to be long (so the ones below are a bad example :)). But they can put you on the offensive and be your best weapon against whatever not-so-nice thing you cant's stop reliving. The devil wants you stuck because in that place of non-movement, you can't do whatever God put you on this earth to do. Scripture is meant to arm you and protect you. If you haven't tried using it as your best defense (and offense), I beg of you to try!
Finally brothers, and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excelling or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new each morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17
God's word is meant to protect you. From the world and sometimes from yourself. Friends, God has a wonderful plan for you. He wants to write your story and help you find a new season; if you will only let him. He can't do that if you're stuck in a place where you can't see Him because your focus is stuck on the very season you wish you weren't in!
This season does not have to be your defining story. Your story is glorious and long and has many seasons. Your heavenly father did not intend for you to get stuck in an eternal winter (think Narnia, always winter - never Christmas). It's okay to move on. It's okay to continue your story in a new season. Your God wants to help you do that!
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