Moving Past the Hurt Once & For All

I believe past hurts are the biggest reason we don’t live happy, fulfilled lives. We all have them. Someone did or said something—or most often, heaped abuse and pain on us for years and years—and then walked away without accepting blame. My goal with this post is not to make that person see the error of her ways and repent, but to help you recognize the pain that keeps you from living the life you want.

It’s easy to say we forgive and move on. Isn’t life easier that way? "I will totally put this out of my head. Forget the jerk. He’s not worth a moment of my time. I’ve moved on."

Usually, though, we’ve not forgiven, we’ve just done the moving on part. We don’t dwell on the hurt because we determine to be stronger than the pain. We get on with our lives and don’t look back, thinking we’ve overcome the past.

It doesn't take long, though, to realize we haven’t overcome anything. The moment the subject comes up or someone mentions what happens or the person who hurt us comes into view, Bam, there it is again. All the pain and betrayal and bitterness are back as strong as the day it happened.

What’s wrong with us? We’re doing everything we can to get past it. It’s not like we dwell on it. We don’t lie away at night plotting revenge. At least not every night. We refuse to let the unforgiveness get a toehold in our lives. Doing so would be allowing the hurt rule us. To control us, and that’s the last thing we want. We're bigger than that.

Why can’t we get past the hurt? Why has it taken root like a cancer and no amount of distraction or meditation or determination on our part can weed it out? Like a real cancer, we can’t wish it away. We can’t ignore it and convince ourselves it isn’t there. Only the Great Physician can eradicate this cancer of unforgiveness that is eating us from the inside out. We may think we’re healed on our own, but as long as we experience anger and bitterness any time we’re reminded of the pain, we haven’t truly forgiven.

The point of the Ready, Set, Go! blog is to encourage and inspire the world to love the life we’re given, coz let’s face it, we don’t really get to pick, but we can make it the best it can be. That can’t be done with unforgiveness eating away at the peace and hope in our hearts. God knows the root of the unforgiveness you're dealing with. He knows the cruel and unreasonable things people have done. And, yes, he understands and empathizes with the pain. Only he can take it away and cleanse your heart like new. Allow him to do a work in your heart today so you may live a life of joy and peace.