Friday, March 28, 2014

Poison Dart Words and Their Antidotes



Sometimes words, intended to harm or carelessly spoken, can be poisonous darts that strike at places of insecurity and fear in us. Maybe we cannot help being wounded by them. It hurts and staggers us. The wounds may come from strangers or at times from the people who love us best.

The question is - where do we go from there? Do we agree with the deadly and detrimental words that diminish us and let the poison take root? Or do we fight – look for antidotes, combat lies and discouragement with truth and encouragement in order to heal and overcome and live more confidently into who we truly are? As e.e. cummings noted:

 “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”  

Recently, I was reminded by my sister that no amount of money will be “enough” to secure us for all future occurrences—real security is not found in finances but in trusting God and relying on His wisdom to direct us in every area of life and in every season.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

Isaiah 46:4 – “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
My sister also reminded me that I do not need to take on other peoples’ worries nor do I need to hold onto my own. Sometimes fear is contagious or our circumstances may tempt us to start freaking out on occasion. But 1 Peter 5:7 says to 
“Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.”
God will help us through everything we face in life no matter how daunting it seems at the time.  

I need to remember that God will provide for me in every season of life and that my worth is secure in belonging to Him and that I have so much to be grateful and glad for right here and now.