“The struggle is part of the design.” - Jamie George
“Embrace the tension between the now and the not yet.” - Steve Lawes
Not at all “ironic,” these are phrases both of my pastors have used in the past decade. One of them was from Franklin, Tennessee, and the other from our church in the Keys.
Recently, Michala was sharing with me part of her resume and her application for an internship. One of the things she had to submit was a “7 second interview” video. This is something used to showcase the applicant’s personality and something that would not appear on a resume. I haven’t asked Michala for permission to share what her 7 second interview said so I will not share it, but I will tell you this: she talked about our ugly, broken past and how leaving it made her stronger and more resilient; qualities she carries with her, always.
As she shared her 7 second interview with me, I wept. I could not help but feel responsible for the brokenness my sweet girl once felt. Although I wasn’t abusive, I exposed her to it, and for that, I will forever regret my decisions not to run like hell, sooner. Each and every time I have apologized to her for my role in our past, she tells me, “There is nothing to forgive.” While her heart is so much more filled with grace than mine will ever be, I still feel responsible for the heartache she experienced in her young life.
As I spent time praying that morning, I remembered two phrases: “The struggle is part of the design,” from my old pastor in Franklin, Jamie George, and, “We have to embrace the tension between the now and the not yet,” from Steve Lawes, Big Pine Key. You see, when we immerse ourselves in His Word, when the enemy taunts us with our failures and mistakes and it is like a fiery blaze, The Holy Spirit comes in and hoses us down with His truth. As awful as Michala’s and my stories are, they are part of God’s design for us. Papa is using the struggle Michala endured earlier in life to showcase His beautiful restoration between the now and the not yet.
Gracious I wish you didn’t have to hurt and suffer, and I know so many of you are hurting and in the midst of your struggle. While I cannot give you a time and date for when you will come through the other side of this pain, I can tell you God will redeem it. He will not waste a single tear you cry. He will not waste a single sleepless night where you sob into the pillow or the floor in a fetal position, and pour your heart and anguish into His hands. He hears every single one, and He will restore your broken pieces.
“He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” - Psalm 107:14-15 (NIV)
One night I woke up (12/4/2018) and felt the Holy Spirit nudging me, “Give me your chains, Aimee.” I wrote those words down in my Bible the very next morning. Just like the song, “Break Every Chain,” by Jesus Culture (written by Will Reagan). Those lyrics, “There is power in the name of Jesus … to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.”
Terry and I get to sit back now and rejoice at Michala’s successes and victories … we see how God is redeeming what was once so horribly broken and weighed us down; Jesus is breaking those chains.
Precious friend, I don’t know what the chains are holding you down and breaking your heart. But I do know the Chain Breaker will bring you out of your darkness and deepest gloom and He will break away your chains.