111607

November 16, 2007

The Pain of Self-Protection

by Shana Schutte

Can you imagine what Christ's life on earth would have been like if He had been self-protective rather than give His all to those He loved? After being mocked and spurned by political groups, old and young men, and spiteful Pharisees, He would have made unhealthy vows about who He would associate with, what He would say in His final hours on earth; and rather than keeping His mouth shut when He was falsely accused, He would have defended Himself.

When His enemies spit in his face, he would have retaliated. When they called Him names, he would have called down a legion of angels to defend Him. When they marched Him to Golgatha, He would have run. Rather than laying down His life, the redemption of the human race would have been lost in His reactive and misguided passion of self-protection.

What do we lose when are overly self-protective? When we cut ourselves off from others because we've been hurt, we miss out on being a gift to people--and we ruin our opportunity to receive healing that God wants to bring through others to us. Like with Christ, the redemption of our heart and the hearts of others will be hindered through our misguided passion of self-protection.

You might be saying, "You don't understand. I've been so wounded by a particular group of people [Christians, women, men, coworkers], that there is no way I am opening myself up to them again."

Maybe like one woman I know, you've made a vow that you are never going to closely associate with women anymore, because every time you've befriended one, she's wounded you.

I don't want to make light of your pain. Rejection and conflict with those we care for does hurt. However, all relationships are a risk and there are no guarantees. But Christ created us for relationship and someone out there needs you--just like those during Christ's time needed Him. And in spite of what your experience may have taught you, not all men, women or church people are untrustworthy. To believe so is to buy into the lies of Satan who wants to rob God's gifts from your life (John 10:10).

I invite you to allow Christ to carry your sorrows and your grief as only He can do (Isaiah 53:4) and heal your heart from those who have wounded you, so you can trust, receive from others and give again to those who need what you have to offer.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:4, NIV).

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