Arrows

I prepared a devotional to share with you on forgiveness. As I was reading it over, ready to publish, Holy Spirit stopped me and told me to take a look at the picture (above) that I intended to share as a part of the devotional.

“What do you see in this picture?” He asked me.

I began to examine the picture and said, “I see a person who has been hurt, hugging the person who hurt him. He looks like he is in great pain, but he is forgiving them.”

“Do you see anything else?” He asked.

“Yes, I see the offender accepting forgiveness and comforting the person they hurt, perhaps apologizing.”

“Who is missing from the picture?” Holy Spirit asked.

“You are,” I answered.

Then the Lord gave me a clearer picture.

He pointed out that the complete work of forgiveness cannot be accomplished without Him. So many of us struggle to let go of hurts because we don’t ask the Lord to lift the burden and heal us.

He pointed out that the man in the picture had many arrows in his back. Each one in and of itself could deal a fatal blow. The arrows, if not removed would cause him to bleed out and die.

So, even though he attempted to forgive, his victory would be short lived. He would not survive these assaults because the arrows were still in him.

I could so relate to what the Lord was saying. I have perfected the art of ‘moving on’ when hurts come my way. I may even forgive others, on some level, but the wounds they inflicted remain with me.

That’s the thing with offenses and forgiveness. The hurt is real, the pain is real and arrows remain lodged in us even when we think we’ve moved past the injury. And maybe most troubling, these arrows are all in the back, meaning we never saw them coming, making them all the more hurtful.

The devotional I intended to publish was about the many commands Jesus gave us to forgive those who sin against us. It focused on the need for obedience to His Word and the effects of unforgiveness in our spirit, soul and body.

I may still send that to you at another time. But today, Holy Spirit wanted to EMPHASIZE and ACKNOWLEDGE that He knows you have been hurt. He wants you to know that your wounds are real. People have done things to you, said things to you that they NEVER should have.

Forgiveness is essential but our own healing leads the way.

Unless the Lord removes the arrows and binds up our wounds, we will never be functioning at full strength. Like the man in the picture, we may have a back full of arrows. We may be moving forward but it is with a slower gait and less power. We are weakened, our influence is diluted and if we take enough arrows we will eventually bleed out.

The solution? Ask Jesus to remove each arrow and heal each and every wound. When I begin to feel my strength waning I go to the Lord and ask Him to search me. Whenever I do this I find myself entirely surprised at what He shows me. There are some big arrows that I have known need to be dislodged, but there are many smaller, older arrows that Jesus, my skilled surgeon, is removing as well!

And, just as the Spirit of God removes each arrow, He helps me to truly forgive the archer that shot it into me! As the wound is healed in me, I am released from the effects of my unforgiveness.

Sometimes we take arrows for those we love, stepping in front of them to shield them from hurts. The Lord has shown me many of these arrows as well. Those wounds are being healed and forgiveness is flowing.

The arrows that are lodged in you? Ask Jesus to remove them, heal you and help you to forgive and truly “move on’ in full strength and power! Let the Spirit of God search your heart and in His own tender, inimitable way, completely set you free. This is a lifelong journey we are on and the days are becoming more and more challenging. Having a powerful walk in the Lord is no longer just an option but a necessity!

The other great thing our master physician/surgeon does - in addition to fixing us He repairs relationship with some archers and completely removes others from our lives. Forgiveness does not equal reconciliation and love does not equal trust, that is earned. He will do a COMPLETE work – praise Him! He will make you whole spirit, soul and body and you will walk in new power and vigor. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.