Read Online Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz - Free Book Online

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    Scott answered with humility, boldness, confidence, clarity of vision, and purpose — and the more he talked, the more I sensed God’s hand was on his life. At the end of that first conversation, my eyes were opened to something I believed God was doing, and my resistance melted. I agreed with Danny to do whatever we could to help Scott. One year to the day after going into exile, Danny and I returned. We came back into church fellowship with those who are not perfect but are committed to connecting people to Jesus for life change. Because God cares, He brought us out of exile.
    Although Hagar was not aware of it, God cared about her also as she ran from her wounders. As her sandaled feet moved swiftly over the rough, rocky terrain that emptied into an endless desert, I imagine she must have felt lonely, confused, terrified, and angry. I expect she mentally replayed the scene with Sarah over and over again. Maybe she even had an imaginary confrontation:
Just who do you think you are? Your name might mean “princess,” but you’re nothing but a bitter, barren old woman. As for sleeping with your husband, do you think I enjoyed that for even one moment? I was just doing my duty. Now I’m carrying his child, which is more than you could eversay. And you’d better not follow me or I’ll run and run and keep on running until I’m so far away you will never find me. And the old man will never have his baby
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    One reason I think Hagar may have had an imaginary confrontation with Sarah is that I often rehearse imaginary conversations with my wounders, honing my words like knives on flint until they are not only sharp, but seem brilliant to me. Of course, as my words get sharper and sharper, I find myself feeling angrier and more justified in self-pity or in plotting revenge. Although I would never speak the words out loud, they shred my inner peace because they keep my focus on “them,” and what they did to me.
    Instead of having an imaginary conversation with myself, I would be better served by pouring out my heart to God in prayer. Yet I have discovered that while I may have an endless supply of angry words for a one-sided conversation in my mind, I find myself at a deplorable loss for words in prayer. When that happens and I struggle for words, I often turn to David’s prayers in the Psalms and use them as my own. For example,
    Give ear to my words, O L ORD ,
    consider my sighing.
    Listen to my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.
    In the morning, O L ORD , you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait in expectation… .
    The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.
    You destroy those who tell lies… .
    Lead me, O L ORD , in your righteousness
    because of my enemies —
    make straight your way before me.
    Not a word from their mouth can be trusted… .
    Let their intrigues be their downfall… .
    But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
    Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
    For surely, O L ORD , you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield. 1
    David’s honesty in his prayers resonates with my heart. Often he begins his prayer complaining, crying out, expressing anger toward his enemies, but invariably he ends his prayer with praise of God. You can almost pinpoint the place where his focus changes from “them” to “Him.”
    I know by experience what David knew. Prayer can help heal your hurt. It can take the sting away. One reason is that it can help put your wounding in perspective. When I focus on God and who He is, my wounders don’t seem so intimidating and my hurt somehow becomes smaller. So may I encourage you? Put the brakes on any runaway mental conversations you may be having with those who have wounded you. If you don’t, and those sharp