During World War II General Eisenhower paid a visit to frontline troops, accompanied by the Major-General in command. It was a rainy day and the mud was ankle deep. Eisenhower addressed the men from a makeshift platform, and while getting off the platform he slipped and sprawled in the mud. The soldiers rocked with laughter.
The Major-General helped Eisenhower to his feet and, covered with confusion, apologized for the behavior of his men. “It’s alright,” said the General. “That fall probably helped their morale more than the speech.” What a great man.
I think the height of greatness is when you can use your fall, failures, disappointments and heartbreaks to inspire someone. But most of us are so ashamed with our failures, so unforgiving towards ourselves and those who have hurt us that we build a hut of hurts and live forever in it; denying ourselves and many others the benefits of our heartbreak. Those who hide their hurts never learn from it. They have not outgrown it. They have not forgiven themselves and those who hurt them.
Paula White was sexually abused by her father as a child, and what did she do with that hurt and shame? She has built a world-wide ministry out of it. She even ended up converting her dad and baptizing him before he died! I know there is a time to hurt, there is a time to feel the pain, but there is also a time to gain from the pain. Make today that time for you to gain from the pain. Get out of that hurt. Forgive yourself and those who hurt you. And you can use your experience to help someone.
LET’S PRAY: Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed.
SUCCESS ACTIVITY: What is it you are hurting from? Is it a rape, divorce, debt, lose of a child? Talk to someone about it and step out to help someone survive your experience or avoid it.
CONFESSION: This pain is over, halleluiah!
