The Hurdle of Hurt

Hello All,

All of us have been hurt before.

There are hurts that cut so deep that they are all that we can see at that very moment.

No matter how hard we try, we are unable to look beyond the hurdle of hurt.

The Hurdle of Hurt

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (27 September 2016)

A high hurdle stands in my way

It's growing higher by the day

I can't see past its highest peak

A stream of hurt flows from its creek

The hurdle of hurt is its name

It sets a high bar for its game

I can't see past its wicked bar

I see no victory from afar

God, help me see past this hurdle

For it's more than I can handle

Deep wounds are all my eyes can see

Please heal those hurts in your mercy

A high hurdle stands in my way

But it shields not the bright sunray

It stands not higher than the Cross

I'm found in Christ; no longer lost

'Father, forgive them,' was His plea

His plea for vile sinners like me

How could He forgive those who sin?

How could He love those who hurt Him?

God, give me the heart to forgive

To give others what I've received

I am struggling to show mercy

Help me, Lord; be patient with me

Points for Reflection:

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

(Luke 23:34a ESV)

·         Jesus experienced the cruelties of His enemies and the betrayal of loved ones.

·         He understands the pain of not being understood and of being mistreated.

·         He is not a God who looks down from heaven in divine indifference but He empathises with the emotional hurts we feel.

·         Despite those hurts, He chose to forgive.

·         Many of us struggle to forgive those who have hurt us. We know we should forgive others as God has forgiven us but we can’t.

·         Forgiveness is not churned out from sheer will power but it comes from our dependence on God’s work in our hearts as we cry out to Him in prayer.

·         We should be honest with God about the sadness and anger we feel towards those who have hurt us and ask Him to help us each day to forgive.

·         Allow His Spirit to work in our hearts to bring about the healing that our souls desperately need.