The Amish Voice 9
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, grab-
bing 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 ap-
prove 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, be-
cause...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. Im-
mediately 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 ac-
tions 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 situa-
tion 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!
—Lynn Miller, Kentucky
How Deep Will You Let The Arrow Go
—by Lynn Miller
When the storms of life threaten to over-
take us, anxiety and fear arise. We might not
see the course before us. Blinded by worry,
we can’t see the spiritual blessings God has
enroute. Satan strs these fears, paralyzing
Christan progress.
Lef on our own, with no guidance, our way
may be so dark and dauntng we want to
give up. Our life-storm may take us under.
Even if we can't pick up the Bible or pray due
to depression, fear, anxiety, anguish, and
wounds, there is hope. When paralyzed by
fear, Christans in our life can step aboard
and intercede for God’s help. The way to sail
from bondage to freedom is prayer. In His
word, God reveals that the prayers of his
saints are powerful. God honors the prayers
of others on our behalf, and starts a heart
and vision change in us.
Anchored in Jesus is the way to weather life-
storms; loss of loved ones, sickness, fnancial
strain, or whatever else that causes worry.
Basking in His Word and constant communi-
caton with Him strengthens our faith and
those around us.
During tmes of calm, His Word prepares us
to sail when the tempest blows. If an answer
isn’t clear right away, we must contnue
praying for God’s directon.
Sometmes bad things happen and we natu-
rally ask why but God in His loving, supreme
positon knows. We see dimly, He sees clear-
ly. Some things may never be revealed to us
this side of eternity. We may never under-
stand the whys in our life. Can we accept
that He, who deeply loves us, is always avail-
able to guide?
“Where is your anchor today?
Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.
And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.”
My Anchor Holds
—William C. Martin
Anchored in Jesus
—Written Cindy Miller