Wretched Man That I Am!

Emotional hurt is the mirror that reflects back to us our true inner qualities and maturity or lack thereof.

We all encounter emotional hurt whether it is from family members, our spouses, friends, church members, employer, employees, etc. As much as we try to avoid such encounters, they are inevitable.

This emotional hurt can produce dark valleys for us to walk through. Sometimes we walk alone in them and at other times we may seek help. But most of the time it is walked out very alone! It is in those valleys that we are greeted face to face with self-knowledge; a discovery of who we are and how we are responding. Sometimes it is good, however sometimes it can be frightening! We may rejoice that we passed with flying colors or cry out to God in utter disgust with ourselves. Talk about the original reality show! And this is one we don’t want others to see.

We don’t often see our maturity in the good times but in the bad. It is here in the crucible of trials, testing’s, and hurt that character is revealed and made. It is here we see how we have progressed in our character and maturity. It is here we see whether we can take it or not. For some, this valley becomes the ‘breaking point;’ for others it becomes the ‘making point!’ The ‘making point’ is where we reevaluate, reshape, and reenter life from the valley with a new understanding of ourselves.

Ps 121TMB I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moon stroke. God guards you from every evil; he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, and he guards you always.

Remember, we can’t stay in those valleys very long. Embrace the lesson, climb out, and face life with a fresh understanding of yourself with God by your side!