From Mourning to Morning
Has your healing ever been delayed because you stayed in a season too long? Absolutely. Have you ever stayed in a season too long even though you knew you were not fulfilled there? I have. Have you ever mourned for yourself while in an uncomfortable season? Yes.
I’m a giver and optimist by nature, and over time I’ve learned that combination can be easily taken advantage of. Seeing the good in others and being easy to forgive means I can stay too long in situations that are ultimately unhealthy. It can cause me to be stuck in something I should’ve been out of a long time ago.
Some life situations can force us to stay in them longer than we want. One example is wanting to leave a toxic work environment, but we stick around to see if it will get better or until we find another job. In these seasons, we can mourn the situation and feel sorrow for ourselves while we are still in it. Sometimes holding on to the grief and pain of being in it can cause us to relive our trauma…. and it hurts us even more.
However, there is beauty in letting go. If holding on to an unhealthy situation is hurting us, then letting it go and moving on will heal us. In order to transition out and grow, we have to learn how to let go. A caterpillar can’t stay too long in its cocoon. It can’t grow that way. It can’t experience the joy of being a butterfly, of flying, and realizing its beauty of seeing life from places being on the ground couldn't take it. It would miss its next adventure if it never leaves the cocoon. Holding on to what causes us to mourn blocks us from getting to the joy in the morning.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Are you holding on to something that is still causing you grief?
2. Why are you still holding on to it?
3. Have you tried giving it over to Jesus?
4. Are you ready to experience the joy of the Lord and let Him be your strength in this next season?
