"The ability to easily explain suffering is the clearest indicator of never having suffered... Death does not transform into life easily. Redemption costs, and whenever we encounter it, we can be certain we have stepped into the realm of the supernatural."
"I believe one principle of Scripture is that in order for any truth to bear fruit as God intended, it must be worked out in me prior to my delivering it to others... You cannot lead a traumatized individual into the power of His resurrection unless that same power has been exerted over the bondages and fears of your own life."
"If you are going to enter into the suffering of those who have been traumatized, you have to learn how to sit with and listen to fear, anger, and great grief with compassion and understanding. You will also have to learn how to do it for far longer than you prefer... Be patient, and then be patient some more."
"You and I become the representative of God to the [trauma] survivor. Our work is to teach in the seen that which is true in the unseen. Our words, tone of voice, actions, body movements, responses to rage, fear, failure all become ways that the survivor learns about God. I believe the reputation of God Himself is at stake in our lives. We are called to represent Him well."
(All quotes above are by Diane Langberg in Suffering and the Heart of God)
"And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us." ~2 Corinthians 5:19-20 NIV
"When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." ~Luke 12:48 NLT
"For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him." ~Matthew 13:12 AMP
Happy Wednesday, friends. This week is intense with work and school and family stuff, but I am thankful for this reminder today. Sanctification (moving toward Christ, loving and honoring Him with our lives) matters.
These things are true for counselors, but also for every child of God. We have the sobering calling and the sacred privilege of being His ambassadors.
Our words and our responses may have a greater impact than we realize on hurting people. May we be receptive to God's Word and use well what we have been given, may our heart attitudes become more and more like Christ, and may we represent Him well!!
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
No comments:
Post a Comment