WITHOUT

Without the storms, I can’t experience and appreciate the serene.

Without the rain in my life, my flowers can’t find their roots and grow to full beauty.

Without choosing my path, I’m tossed to and fro on uncontrollable waves of emotions.

Without choosing God’s way, I leave my heart’s gate open to the devil’s wiles and temptation.

Without the SONshine of love I leave my heart in a cold dark cave.

Without forgiveness, I am in chains of everlasting anguish and pain.

Without willingness to give love unconditionally and face rejection and pain, I give up my opportunities to be immersed in love and joy again.

Experiencing hurt is real and an ever present reality on this earth. Do we hide, run, or build a fortress, or do we look for the silver lining and exceptional times in our lives and anticipate the next one? We are here on this earth to help one another whenever we can. The question is will you choose to help others and thereby help yourself, or do you stay by yourself and dry up inside surviving in fear, all alone? I experience low tides of drifting into the negativity as we all do. What matters is what I do consistently when no one else is looking. How I do the little things is how I will do everything.

God is my strength and courage and He promises to always be. I pray and ask for help and encouragement and get up and choose a loving life again. We all fall down. It matters most how we get back up again and again.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:6

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

My Castle Walls

Some days I encounter bullet holes, cannonballs, and the flaming arrows of life’s pain and heartache demolishing the castle walls of my heart. There have been days, weeks, and even seasons of my life when I have been continually beaten until most of my walls were rubble. I was vulnerable and weak to the calls of feeling sorry for myself, deciding not to exercise because I’m tired, blaming others, having a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to take the edge off, or numerous other things that would not ordinarily tempt me. Some people handle their demolition by inflicting pain on others to feel “in control and powerful,” others have numbed and dulled their thoughts and pain with drugs and alcohol.

It’s a guarantee as long as we are on this earth and live with others there will be trials and triumphs. With every choice we make we are putting a new brick in place or we are tearing our walls down more. In the days of knights and castles, surrounding walls meant the difference between being able to protect themselves against invasion and elimination or to thrive.

Over the years I’ve learned to use the power of God’s word when I come under attack and invasion. If I allow my mind to go to the dark side, then I’ll face the possibility of further destruction. If I believe in God’s power and might, I must take an offensive position. I choose to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and (I) we will take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 This scripture helps stop the attack in my mind. Once it’s stopped, I choose to take the following action, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

The walls around my heart protect me from direct attack and allow the opportunity to choose who I let in and keep out. They are my healthy boundaries. I don’t use them to isolate myself, because then I can’t grow or love others like Jesus asked me to do. The gate to my heart is the balance. It is Christ’s example and calling.

I will have attacks as long as I am alive. I know I can defend myself and defeat the enemies as long as I have the strength of Christ in me. God knows what’s best for me and I trust him. Some of the walls in my life needed rebuilt, so an attack was allowed, but not my destruction. Now those areas are better because of the new wall. 

Stand strong and be of courage. Your walls maybe knocked down a time or two, but when your foundation is strong, you will be made new.