“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” - C.S. Lewis
This is one of those phrases to stick with me the way oatmeal sticks with you on a cold day. Sometimes we just need the reminder we can get over painful experiences. We just need to picture ourselves crossing monkey bars. You let go at some point and grab onto the next one. And then you do the same thing, over and over until you reach the end. By this point, you can jump off and go over to the swings or the slide.
The letting go part is hard. I know. I have a tendency to want to hold onto things for far too long. Pain, grudges, victories, memories, celebrations, you name it … I probably have a tight grasp on and around it. If you could see things literally the way we feel them figuratively, you would be able to see the fingernail marks into said pain, grudges, victories, memories, celebrations, etc. in my life. And yet I still walk into a room and wonder why did I come in here?
This is how the enemy creeps in and attacks us. The enemy wants us dirty and in our messes, but Jesus wants us, stains removed. I have a saying, “Jesus is my shame remover.” Every time I see one of those Tide sticks, I think, “stain remover.” It makes me think of Jesus on the cross, removing my stains. My stains are shame, and Jesus is our shame remover.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Scorning its shame. Jesus did that for us on the Cross. The whispers of doubt and shame you hear in your head? That’s not God. That is not the Holy Spirit. That is the enemy telling you, “you aren’t worthy.” But when you let go and reach for the next bar on the monkey bars, you are releasing the painful experience, bar by bar. This is, of course, a figure of speech, but I think C.S. Lewis painted a beautiful image for us.
We have to let go at some point to move forward. The clenched fists held tightly by our sides cannot receive blessings. Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame. He did it for you and He did it for me.
The enemy wants us stuck. The enemy wants us hanging on, fearful of moving forward. But with the strength given to us from Jesus, we let go at some point and move forward.
Go ahead. Cross the figurative monkey bars. It is so freeing and feels so good.