Say Goobye to Hurts

Sometimes, as we walk out our lives on this earth, we meet people who seem to be doing quite well but who secretly carry a great deal of hurt on the inside. You may know a few of these folks, and you may be one of these folks.

Hurt can be a formative foe for many of us. It comes into our lives when we least expect it, and many times from the least expected places. It seems to hunt us down and then to try desperately to make a home for itself.

We may experience hurt because of the dysfunction of our families; maybe from parents who were too busy to help us grow up in a healthy environment; maybe from an abusive relationship; or maybe from just an unkind word or perceived unkindness. Hurts can materialize from many different situations and places.

No matter where they come from, we need not let them control us.

Hurts find entry into our being through our minds, and entrance into our minds through our emotions. They use our emotions to steer us off track from whom and what we are supposed to be and do. They attack us through our feelings. We even say things like "I got my feelings hurt." First, we need to admit that we cannot trust our emotions -- our feelings.

Emotions were meant for good. The creator gave us emotions so we could experience life as he intended it. Hurt tries to rob us of all that we might enjoy about our lives. It speaks to us when we are emotionally drained and our defenses are down. When we are emotionally wounded, hurt comes to us and kicks us when we're down -- so to speak. The problem is, emotions and feelings fluctuate -- they are untrustworthy.

Some people try to hurt others before they can be hurt or to try to feel better about themselves; some even form relationships based on shared hurt; some stir up strife around them in hopes that they won't get hurt; some just harden their hearts to those around them to defend against further hurt.

I think the best way to deal with hurt is to just refuse to let pain -- or how we feel emotionally -- be the point of reference for our lives. We need to stop letting the hurts get the best of us. I know it's hard to do, but when those things -- or people -- that hurt us make an appearance, we need to just rise above them. We all have the inner strength to move past the hurt seemingly forced upon us by our emotions and feelings and those hurtful people we might come in contact with.

My prayer for you is that your hurts may subside as you grab hold of your inner strength -- and the power of the Holy Spirit -- to help you rise above your feelings and emotions, which are the basis of most hurts.