Dealing with Christmas Heartbreak
Christmas is almost here, and I can’t believe we’re already down to the tenth emotion of Christmas!
The tenth emotion is hurt.
It’s something we’re often reminded of during the holidays due to get-togethers with extended family and friends we haven’t seen in awhile.
Hurt can reveal itself in many ways: heartbreak, unforgiveness, disappointment, depression, anger, and even disgust!
I just want to encourage you, if people have hurt you in the past, God wants to heal you from ALL of those emotional wounds.
Psalm 34:18 (NIV) tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Past hurts don’t define future possibilities!!
I remember going to speak at a women’s conference a few years back and being totally caught off guard by the situation I walked into. As soon as I arrived, the pastor’s wife began to tell me how they had wanted somebody else to come and speak, but since she wasn’t available, they had asked me.
Wow, what a bode of encouragement!
I smiled politely and told her how happy I was to be there. As the service began, I stepped up to speak and looked across the auditorium. What I found was a room full of scowling women with their arms crossed!
I hadn’t said a word yet, but they seemed resolute to be unhappy. I could feel the emotional suppression over the room—the women were emotionally burned out by circumstances, offenses, and pain. They were defeated believers with no joy, no peace, and no provision.
To anyone coming in from the outside, it was a terrible representation of God and what being a believer in Christ looks like.
If we live in a place of hurt, how can we be effective in our own lives or in impacting others?
My family and friends know I don’t back down easily. So, the more they pouted, the more passionately I preached!
Sometimes you have to confront the enemy of negativity, bad attitudes, and emotional strongholds that are keeping people hostage.
Go HERE for some powerful verses on breaking down strongholds.
Anyway, the Lord began to download things to me as I was speaking to those women.
There was a night-and-day difference between the first session and the next. By the end of the event, 90 percent of the women came forward for prayer.
Women were crying, laying hands on each other, and hugging. You could feel God’s Spirit healing women all over the room!
There are people who have been nursing hurts and wounds for years, and anytime they begin to see success, the enemy pulls them back into fear, discouragement, and causes them to lose the joy of their salvation.
When we hold on to emotional disappointments, offense, heartbreak, and bitterness toward others, we only end up hurting ourselves!
“Bitterness is like drinking poison ☠️ and expecting the other person to die.” —Joanna Weaver
In order to regain our joy, we have to give our hurts to God and allow Him to heal us—spirit, soul, and body.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
When we hold on to hurt, it hinders us from fulfilling our God-given destinies.
Jesus wants you to be free from those tormenting emotions. He already paid the price for your emotional healing; all you have to do is receive it!
Pray this prayer with me today:
God, I give you my heartbreak, my disappointed expectations, and everything I have held against the people around me. I love you, and I cast my cares on you. Heal my heart and renew my joy. Amen!
