As a counselor and pastor, I am often the facilitator of
groups and meetings where I ask people to share themselves with the rest of the
group. At this point I sound like the cliché
counselor who asks, “And how does that make you feel?”
But in all actuality, it is a great question to ask. In spite of the fact that my church members
and counseling clients often roll their eyes at me when they hear those words,
it is important that we don’t look past the fact that we are real people who
have real feelings and need real release from our emotional bondage.
One of the best ways that we can find that kind of release
is through the sharing of what we have learned.
For me, this has been a cathartic exercise in reducing the anger
and hurt that I felt over many years without a pastor. Moreover, I have been able to share hope
through the struggle by engaging many people who have recently lost pastors, so
that they can learn from my mistakes.
So lets talk. How
does your past make you feel?
Are you angry, hurt, lonely, anxious, perplexed, lethargic
etc?
Through what activities do you hope to relieve some of these
feelings?
How do you hope others can grow from what you know?
Can you be an encouragement to anyone who is also feeling
this way?
People, its ok to FEEL!
The church has to stop pretending that we never get hurt,
and we have to show a lost world what it means to be comforted by the Holy
Spirit! Let the world see that you were
hurt, and let them know that the Lord is healing you. The work isn’t over, but He is the one doing it.
