What Really Hurts

It's the work of the Holy Spirit, in you. In your life. That softening. That breaking. That hurt that leads to humility. And dependency. To a falling away of independence and self-will and determination. It's His work in you. It is. It's none other than the work of the Holy Spirit, in you.

And you, being still. Letting go. Letting be. Is you, moving in the Spirit, with the Spirit, by the Spirit. It's you, abiding tightly. And resting fiercely. In Christ.

Because it's true that every step along the way can hurt. Every choice for Christ can feel like such a fight. Because every letting go and deciding to stop is like torture. To your soul. Especially at first. It's true. Because it's a breaking of self-will and determination. And it’s what really hurts. Breaking hurts. It does.

But it must be. It must be. For life to happen in you. For freedom to be yours. Breaking must be.

So that Christ can be seen through your breaks. So that Christ can shine through all the cracks and the holes and weak spots of your one life. The breaks and the cracks, the holes and the weaknesses, that you’ve finally let go of trying to correct, and left to be.

So that Christ can take hold of all of you. As you are.

Where you find all your breaking turn into rejoicing. For His acceptance is more than enough. And your hurt fades in comparison to receiving all that Christ is. In the presence of Christ, every tear is wiped away, and everything, everything that once felt like torture to you, is now welcomed by you. For you know what really hurts is just the glorious way to your freedom. And it must be.

Because, deep-down, you know the glory of Christ Jesus, shining in your one life, is only possible through all of your brokenness, as you let be, letting the Holy Spirit do His work in you. Even in what really hurts.

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"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14