How Deep Will You Let The Arrow Go?

By Norma Miller

July 1, 2011

Imagine how you would feel if you saw someone who had been shot in the heart by an arrow. What would you think if you saw the wounded person, gasping in pain, grabbing the arrow and pushing it in, causing even more pain and damage.

Our lives are full of situations having the potential to wound us. It may be thoughtless words by a friend, unthankful children, grown children making choices we don't approve of, or our spouse failing to come through when promised.

Families have the potential to hurt each other deeply and daily. Husbands and wives can hurt each other because they are vulnerable, allowing each other into the deep personal areas of our hearts.

The Lord recently showed me through some happenings in my own life, that to a great degree I can control how badly things can hurt me. I have already been extremely hurt by some things my husband has done, because...i hate to admit it...oh this is hard to say...gulp...because I wanted to be hurt! Yikes! How pathetic!

Recently I was experiencing the joy and peace of yielding more deeply to the Lord. A few minutes after that, someone I dearly love, and expected to rejoice with me showed displeasure at something I did. Immediately the arrow of disapproval pierced my heart. I felt it going deeper.

The intention to hurt me came not from my human friend, but from the enemy, who loves nothing better than to attack after a breakthrough. He was trying to steal my peace and joy.

Now I had a choice; allow him to succeed or not?

To the Lord I went, and reminded myself there was no human intent to hurt me (for we wrestle not against flesh and blood... but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of wickedness in high places...). I failed to stay on guard to the tactics of the enemy because that same attack came twice more that day, and I allowed the enemy to wound me again. But i got back up, and learned a very powerful lesson.

God showed me the exact point and time when I need to make the decision, 'How far will I let this in'? It's a little hard to swallow the fact that we can rush, to intensify our own pain. People do awful things, and it will hurt, but we have control over how much, how deeply, and how long it will hurt.

• It's helpful to remind ourselves of these truths:
• in most situations the person does not intend to harm
• sometimes it is our own attitude that causes irritation at a person, or their actions and mannerisms.
• it's much easier to stop the arrow from penetrating than it is to try to stop the bleeding later.

No matter what anyone thinks, says, or does to us, or about us, we have a Father who loves us, and cares about every detail of our lives.

Telling ourselves the truth in any given situation is a very powerful thing.

John 8:32 ‘For you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'.

So, am I going to shove the arrow in a little further, so I have a reason to 'mope' around for a while?! No, no, I wouldn't do anything like that. Of course not! I just thought maybe you struggle with it from time to time!

 

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