Damaged....

Damaged....

Several years ago, when I was in a formal role of women's ministry, I was taking a certificate program in "Pastoral Care of Women".  Two of the required classes were "Women in Pain", each dealing with different kinds of emotional pain of women. It was so interesting, thought provoking and practical...I had dealt with a few myself...and within the course of the following year,  all but one came through my office door to be heard, loved...and encouraged. Since that time, those "pains" have cropped up again and again, different stories, different locations, different people, but still there in different women's lives....the pain goes on...just as life...

Many women have triumphed over those pains, through God's grace and love and the caring people In their lives,.... many have continued to carry that damage not surrendering to the grace that God has offered...the decision was theirs to make....

All the stories were painful to listen to, painful to tell, tear filled sessions, hunting for Promises, and encouragement in Gods Word, praying over and over , time and time again to victory...through discouragement and hurtful lives...

I look back and see answers in women's lives...see answered prayer...growth in their lives as well as my own...smiles of peace, contentment, love That only God could bring about....

A young single mother, "damaged" by divorce, fearful of remarriage...
A young woman, "damaged" by an accident, fearful of not having  children...
A young woman, "damaged" by abuse, fearful of people...
A woman, "damaged" by a husbands lust of pornography, gambling, abuse...
A woman , "damaged" by painkiller addictions of herself and her husband...
A woman, "damaged" by church abuse and legalism...
And on and on it goes...

Now,  several years later, it is with great joy, I see victory in so many of those lives...a wonderful, joy filled marriage, children to the barren, healed lives...God's grace has triumphed again and again...it hasn't been easy..., but healing has taken place...
And on and on it goes .....

Thank YOU, in whom true Victory reigns....You are so Worthy of all the praise...

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 61:1 [ The Year of the Lord’s Favor ] The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Psalm 18:3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

Psalm 48:1 [ Psalm 48 ] [ A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. ] Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

Psalm 96:4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.