“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 ESV

Over the recent holidays, I felt the Lord give me the title for His next word. I was excited to get another download but things quickly came to a standstill once the title was written on paper. Each day up until Christmas I looked at the paper with nothing more than the title and a scripture reference and I wondered why there was a pause. I asked the Lord for more but nothing was coming.

Like many, Christmas came and families gathered together. Gifts were given and received, special plates were used and the table was spread with delicious food and Christmas cheer. Stories were told, laughter was heard, and love was felt by all. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Yet, in the midst of the joyous celebrations, I’m sure there were many who experienced heartaches and despair. The pain of tender wounds can tend to resurface easily during the Christmas season. Broken families, broken relationships, even the death of someone close can cause many to grow callous and cold towards the Christmas season all together. Miscommunicated…. misunderstood…. labels…. never enough…. black sheep of the family…. just plain “stuck-in-a-rut” routines. Perhaps this speaks of you…perhaps this speaks of someone you know. Our head hits the pillow at night thinking, wondering, questioning, “Will this ever end? Will this ever change?”

LENSES

We have all looked through them. Microscopes, sunglasses, binoculars, old style 3-D glasses… basically any type of lens you can think of, we have probably looked at the world through each of them at some point. Each lens delivers a different perspective. Some change the colors, others show things up close, while others bring things into focus.

The world we live in can also deliver a certain perspective on how we default to relating with others and seeing things. Has something really terrible ever happened to you as a child or as a young adult? The lens of trauma can deliver a view of the world that others may not see through. Have you always been told negative words and phrases about you? The lens of negativity and worthlessness can deliver a view of the world that others may not see through. Do you or someone you know only see things from a limited perspective, always thinking they are right? The lens of narrowmindedness can deliver a view of the world that others may not see through. If we, who see the world through a certain lens, try to relate with others who only see the world through whatever lens they are looking through, then it becomes easy to understand why heartaches and brokenness crop up.

Once the holidays passed, I noticed that I was somewhat struggling. Yes, I enjoyed the holidays as much as the next person but something was off. “Lord, what is this?” In His gentle kindness, He reminded me of a few times in past Christmas seasons when I felt the “undercurrent” of a few words spoken in my direction. It was nothing major, just a veiled sentence or two that just didn’t seem to set right. Do you know the feeling? After the holidays and after all the family gatherings, I sat with my husband to pray about these things. Although these “undercurrents” were more of a reflection of the heart of the one who delivered them, we came to the conclusion that God was still doing a finishing work in me and healing some of the last tender parts of my once broken heart. We also came to another conclusion. The Lord usually calls me to write what I tend to go through! Ugh…

A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU!

As we have entered into this new year of 2024, I hear the Lord saying, “Open doors and complete wholeness is in store for my bride! I have been doing deep work in the heart of My bride for quite some time. Although much healing has taken place over the last year, I am doing a finishing work with some lingering areas of hurt and trauma to bring you into complete wholeness for the doors I am getting ready to open in this new year. I am not just opening one door, but many doors! Promotion and favor are at hand! However, it will require leaving behind those things that will no longer serve you in this new season. Some have experienced deep relational pain and rejection. However, they have continued to go forward and obey My lead. I am doing a completion of the healing work from the pain that you have endured! This is a time to fully surrender it all and lay it at the feet of my son, Jesus. Give to Him what will no longer serve you from past seasons. I am making new wineskins and the old must go (Luke 5:37-39). You will notice a new freedom and joy as I heal you and bring you into complete wholeness! You will know what it is like to experience life and life more abundantly! Nothing will be missing and nothing will be broken. The gain will be greater than the loss you have experienced!”

“Do not be discouraged as some things may be surfacing that you thought you have already dealt with. I, in all of my goodness, am completing the work of healing and restoration so that you can go into this new year completely free and unbound by what once entangled you! Be encouraged! New doors of opportunity are at hand and the best is yet to come!

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NLT