Friday, January 17, 2014 -- Vulnerable To Emptiness (2)

VULNERABLE TO EMPTINESS (2)

Our daily lives need to be shaped after God's plan.  We lived long periods of time in painful addiction because of our daily practices.   These practices were shaped by what we thought and what we wanted when we experienced lack and vulnerability.  To now live a life filled with God's healing power and satisfying purposes, we need to reform our previous responses to vulnerability.  We need to bring those feelings our addictions used to hide, those feelings of pain and loss, loneliness, frustration and dissatisfaction before God.  He promises to heal and restore you.  He will hold you close to His heart as you learn to deal with the reality of what life has been like.

The Bible teaches:  If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT)

How can we allow our areas of vulnerability to be filled with healthy thoughts and behaviours? 

1.  Where we have previously hidden pain and loss, Jesus now invites us to name that pain, give it over to Him, and receive healing. We need to come to God in faith and pray ourselves.  We need to seek out others to pray.  We need to affirm the promises God gives us in the Bible and "tell ourselves the truth."  We need to receive what God is giving based on what God says not on what we feel.

2.  Where we have lived alone, Jesus invites us to take healthy risks to build new networks of friendships and sponsors who will help us grow.  Where we lacked accountability because of gaps in our upbringing, Jesus now invites us to put ourselves under the guidance of a mature and trustworthy person and let them train us and help us grow.  Where we waited for others to come and fix us and drag us out of our dark feelings, we now need to reach out to care and love and minister to others who may be in the place we know so well.  In doing that, we will experience the connectedness and joy that God gives.

3.  Where we experience feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction, God invites us to see them now as signals that there is something we can do.  We can reach out to Him and others for help rather than letting those feelings drag us down and back into harmful addictive behaviour. Rather than run away from frustration, it's time to see the possibility for change that might just be around the corner.  Rather than feed dissatisfaction and discontent with addictive substances and relationships, it's time to step into new practices that God says really satisfy.  Practical ideas to apply when vulnerable moments present themselves come from daily prayer and Bible study.  As we seek to hear God’s voice He will give us practical ideas that will help us. Rather than simply giving in to thoughts and feelings, it’s time to ask God what a new and healthy practice might be in a given situation.  We can also seek the advice of a trusted mentor, sponsor, or companion for suggestions. 

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!  (Psalm 103:2-5 NLT)

When we feel empty and vulnerable and choose to cling to thoughts or practices that give us opportunity to relapse, we need to remember that there is an alternative that is simple and available and will meet the need in our heart. We must choose to let go of the lie that our substance of choice will fill the gap in our heart.  We wouldn't be in recovery today if it had.  We can truly fill that void through surrender to God and obedience to His plan.  Will we give in to God or give into an addictive obsession?

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