We don't have to live with hurt

As I walk through my everyday life, like most of you, I come face-to-face with folks who seem, from all outward appearance, to be OK. I fear that secretly, far too many are just barely making it through life because of deep-seated hurt.

Hurt seems to have a mind of its own. It digs and tears into our lives from all quarters. It may have entered through an unsuccessful relationship, through an unhealthy upbringing and home life, an unfaithful spouse, or simply an unkind word spoken at the wrong time.

Feeling pain is not a new thing. I believe it started way back in the Garden. The serpent made his full frontal attack not on the physical part of man, but on the emotional side. Hurt initially came into mankind through our feelings.

Not that emotions are bad. They are part of who we are -- part of who we were created to be. Positive emotions can uplift us and make us healthy. Negative emotions, on the other hand -- such as hurt -- serve to get us off track; to make us unhealthy in our lives and relationships and out walk with God.

I believe that hurt has a voice. It talks to us, and if we are already emotionally wounded or scarred, we tend to listen. That increases the hurt and makes the situation worse. Why? Because our emotions cannot be trusted. And -- in my opinion -- all of the self-help techniques and mantras espoused by modern psychology tends not to help the one who is hurt while hurting others in the process.

Eventually, too many times, hurt people hurt others to try to feel better, or they pretend the hurt doesn't exist, or they form relationships built on hurt, and their hearts become hardened against those who love them and might be able to help.

But we cannot afford to live our lives with pain and hurt as the point of reference. we must somehow rise above hurt and unlock the chains of our hearts and free the healthy person God intends for us to be. The key to those chains is the Word of God.

Be at peace. You are loved.