Peace with the Past - Your Nightly Prayer - June 16th

Peace with the Past
by Meg Bucher

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I don’t like how long it takes me to heal. It’s a waste of time that could be spent turning the page and skipping to the next chapter. Logically, that’s what I want to do. Spiritually, I know to forgive and let go. But my heart hits the stop button. It needs a minute to catch up, and no logic or wishing can push it forward before it’s ready to go. I know I can’t change another person’s heart. I realize that’s God’s territory. But what I often forget is that so is mine. I can’t change my own heart. That’s God’s territory, too.

I’ve hit pause on friendships I cherish, because I can’t skip past the healing process. Professionals say we should take as long as we need to heal, but in the verse above, God tells us not to look back. In Christ, we have the power to forgive and move forward, but I’m learning that even that has a timeline only God is privy to. The heart is His territory.

This evening, as I meditate over recent events, I am shocked by the forward progress that has suddenly dropped into this day. I’m overwhelmed, and skeptically ponder if it’s too good to be true. But it’s not. It’s God’s timing. It’s His work of healing, so that only He gets the glory. I feel healed, and they must feel healed, too.

Making peace with the past isn’t easy, nor possible for us by our own sheer will. But if we let go, give God control of what is His territory anyway, obey His directives as He works, and exercise all the patience we can muster …we just witness a miracle. I believe reconciliation is a miraculous work of God. What seemed impossible for me for so many years now seems possible. I’m scared to accept it! What if it spins out again? What if it hurts again?

But what if it doesn’t? Part of making peace with the past is accepting God’s gift of reconciliation and moving forward, reconciled.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
Thank you for mending bridges we feared were burned beyond repair. We are amazed at the way you heal our hearts, and are overjoyed by the miracle of reconciliation. Help us to face our fears and walk fully in the restoration you bring into our lives.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. If you are healing from hurt someone caused you, take a moment to talk specifically to God about how you are currently feeling about it.

2. Ask God to open your heart and help you to forgive.

3. Reconciliation does not always happen, but if it does, are you open to it?

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Radu Florin

Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com. She is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” “Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” “Glory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,” “Home, Finding Our Identity in Christ,” "Sent, Faith in Motion," Connected: 100 Days of Connecting God’s Word to our Everyday and Jammed - a 365 Day Devotional. Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters …which led her to pursue her writing passion as a blogger and freelance writer. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. She loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader.

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