“What did I hear in that moment? It was as if I could hear the Lord saying, “See, son. I did not abandon you. You will see your grandmother again. I did not forget you or forsake you. I took your grandmother’s prayers and I multiplied them...and son, they continue to this day!” In fact, both these dear ladies still pray for me as of this writing—35 years later!!!

This one event began the opening of a dam in my heart that had not been touched in years. Suddenly I could see the time I was five years old and that man had exposed himself to me. Someone had come between him and me. Someone had given me the sense to run. Someone had been kept me from harm...and that Someone had been the Lord.

When my encounter with a mentor had brought me to the place of utter hopelessness in college, Someone had kept me from taking my life. Someone had spoken softly yet firmly into my mind, “Are you really ready for eternity?” And that Someone had been the Lord.

In the age of AIDS and many sexual encounters Someone had preserved my life. Someone had been there even in the midst of my sin—not taking part in my sin—but there just the same. He was the One saying, “Come this way, son. This is the way of escape.” I just had not listened...or even known how to listen. That Someone? Jesus. Healing has not stopped since. It took 22 years to build that wall of hurt. I expect that just maybe it will take that long to tear it down...and all the while being rebuilt. I have been on this road of healing for over 25 years now, actually. I have learned to be patient and allow God to be Who He is...and for me to learn to simply be in His presence.

I shared the story of how God had redeemed the memory of the loss of my grandmother with a large group I was ministering to a few days later and received the following letter. Through the years I have received literally thousands and thousands of letters...but none have so adequately described what I am trying to convey to you right now. Read on:

“At one point in the evening, you said something like, “Think back to a time in your life when you felt that God was nowhere around—yet know that He was there feeling your pain.”

The time I remembered was the stillborn birth of our first baby, Joshua John. My vivid memory of that day has always been of a cold delivery room. I was alone. My husband wasn’t allowed to be with me. No family in town—only uncaring strangers shouting instructions at me. I was confused, cold, and afraid. I remember the delivery, of doctors whisking my baby away and hearing the report that he was dead. For fifteen years, that’s how I remembered that day. And yes, I did not think that God was with me.

However, thanks be to God! God gave me a new picture of that day. I saw the same room and people, yet this time upon my delivery I saw Jesus reach down and scoop up Joshua John in His arms. He held him lovingly and He laughed and danced around the room exclaiming, “It’s a boy!” How proud He was of Joshua. What tenderness and love he showed as He received Him into His arms.

How I thank God for this new picture. How I thank Him for loving me and Joshua. How grateful I am for this healing in my heart.

What a wonderful picture of the spiritual reality of God’s perspective. Whatever His enemy (your enemy) has meant for evil against you in your life, God has the ability to make something good of. Sometimes we have to take another look at the things that have hurt us in order to understand the way toward healing. Sometimes we have to endure the dry, harshness of a painful desert in order to enjoy and understand the sweet refreshing rain. As long as we have breath, we have hope. So take a deep breath and get ready to allow the Lord to begin showing you a brand new perspective on the wounds of your life.

Questions For Meditation

Make a list of all the times you felt rejected, or forgotten, or forsaken by God and/or others.

Would you be willing to give this list to the Lord and ask Him to show you His point of view?

Would you be willing to allow Him the necessary time that may be required?

Once you begin to see and understand God’s perspective on your wounds, what do you plan to do with that information?

Mentally give your list to the Lord as your prepare to sleep. Allow Him the freedom to show you your life and your wounds from His point of view. Expect to wake up refreshed.

Listen again to the song “Watching Over You” and be ready to see God’s perspective.

Then, listen to “I Cry Holy” and make it your prayer.

DJ’s Thought for the Day

“Life is best understood—and lived—from God’s point of view.”

Photo courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/baby-child-father-parent-2616673/

Excerpt From

Victim to Victor : A Personal Devotional Walk Towards Wholeness with Christ

By Dennis Jernigan

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