❣️Productive Pain's Redemption: De-Masking to Heal❣️

While visiting Houston, Texas, I sat in on the talk between Pastors Jimmy and Irene Rollins of i5 City Church and Pastor Jeremy Foster and wife Jennifer Foster at Hope City Church.

They spoke on two very important points: 1) MAKE PAIN COUNT FOR PURPOSE and 2) REMOVE THE MASK, and I wanted to share them here.

A medium for God's love is through others offering a safe place for our prior pain to find healing.

We must learn to STOP doing the dance: the perpetual life fight based in ignored issues that are then triggered by our spouse, significant other, family member, friend, co-worker, self, etc.

How to get on the right foot:

1. Deal with natural family of origin issues. When our brain is ready to address something, it comes to the surface. Don't stuff it back down.

2. Learn to activate self-peace so you can discover the inner turmoil. Take a pause. Call yourself out of chaotic thoughts, resentful behavior, and a toxic attitude. Verbally repeat "let it go" when it invades your thoughts. Recovery is messy and hard, but so worth it.

Curl Check: What things are shaking you up? What’s creating a volcanic eruption in you against the self-peace you are walking toward?

3. Speak with a trustworthy friend - have accountability around you. Get people who know what you're capable of BUT ALSO what you're called to do.

Remember that the enemy works in division - if he can talk to us by ourselves, danger ensues.

"For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

4. Medicate with the right things:

The Word

Consultations with the Holy Spirit

Wise Counsel with therapists

5. De-mask and get at the truth

Hidden or secret things hurt yourself and the people around you. We must identify and name those secrets in order to start the healing process.

EXTRA

When we're hurt so badly and viewing others through our own wounds, so much so that we cannot truly see the actual people in front of us, we must look through eyes of compassion. It is imperative that we constantly call on God for grace and patience, to resist the natural urge to allow our wounds to lash out at other people. Our wounds thrive on conceitedness, they only live when we pick at them. They are based in an unresolved pain that when repeatedly messed with will thwart our healing. Don't be so quick to "pick at" the wounds, suggesting that everyone you meet is against you or will hurt you like you experienced in the past. Step back, take a look around, and see the scene for what it truly is...take inventory of the true character of the current people around you.

"I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" 1 Corinthians 9:21‭-‬23 MSG (bridge to grace)

REWARD

Misery to ministry. When I practice these five steps repeatedly in my peace- and healing-driven life, God will use my story, and the grace shown to others will make room for those same people to inevitably apply grace to me.

Smile, Shine, & Love, Curlfriends,

- A De-masking Curl

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I love you, Curls!