AUTHENTIC AND ENDURING PERSONAL GROWTH
REVIEW PREVIOUS WEEK’S HOME PRACTICE ACTIVITIES
1. Transformation: How did it go?
2. Getting together with someone in your faith community
3. Reflecting on the exercises we did last week…any new insights?
4. How did your times of prayer go? Did you have the chance to pray for anyone else?
Mood: How would you rate your mood at this time on a 1 to 10 basis: 10 being the best.
Rate: ___________
HOW TO RESPOND TO NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES
Your personal growth:
This week we will be dealing with how to respond to negative circumstances that are causing a fair amount of stress. For example, your illness is a problem most people have difficulty managing successfully. It’s very hard to reflect on some hard things in your life, times of affliction and suffering and put them in a positive light. Many people find that feelings like shame and guilt began to surface at this time because they feel sufficient progress has not been made. Christians are often told that we are to be joyful in the midst of tough circumstances. This type of joy is not the happiness most people assume goes along with living the Christian life "right".
You will recall we talked before about how Christ endured the persecution and horrific torturing because He stayed focus on the "joy" of seeing us reunited with God, having a brand new eternal relationship with Him – resulting in abundance and blessings. But we also know that Jesus experienced intense pain – to the point of asking the Father if it be His will, to take this exercise away from Him (Jesus) and find some other way to redeem mankind. But He left it open during His prayer time as He said: "let your will be done, not mine" .
It’s helpful for people to remember that at times Jesus felt such a lack of joy that he was seen actually sweating drips of blood from His forehead after diligently praying and pleading with the Father. So, if you have trouble seeing the good aspects of problems such as your health you are not alone.
But God doesn’t want us to just give up and come to a place of rest by just enduring excruciating pain. You will find below a worksheet to help you walk through the process of identifying any positive results that may have occurred in your life or in the lives of others – related to your illness.
Place a check mark next to some of the common and normal emotions associated with trying to manage mental and physical illness.
THE TRUTH OR FACTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
God doesn’t want us to ignore the truth or facts associated with our circumstances. We are not asked to turn a blind eye when examining our difficulties and just claiming you have sufficient faith to feel "just fine". That is likely not even close to being true and God understands.
But in some respects illness doesn’t have to be a dead end or culmination of a downward spiral. It’s possible to experience spiritual growth, meaning, purpose and an appropriate sense of control. In some respects your illness opened a door to a new beginning. Although you may not wish for your illness to surface in someone else, you may be able to find a model of how we can change our attitudes from Paul in the book of Philippians.
Paul was speaking from prison, in chains for preaching the gospel when the society didn’t want him to speak up. He knew he was incarcerated for being obedient to God’s calling. Yes, this has led to justifiable cause for feelings of frustration and resentment. But Paul finds it within himself to speak from the depths of his heart. To summarize his points let’s review his conclusions:
How about that as an attitudinal shift?
He sees his chains as a means of fulfilling his purpose of advancing the gospel. Despite the negatives and confusion Paul encourages us to ask God for help to see the meaning, purpose and even the positives in the situations we face.
Can you relate to any of this? Or is the pain too difficult to handle right now?
HOW TO COPE WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
Sometimes it’s easier to cope, even though we may not like what is happening, to stop wishing it had never occurred or would rapidly depart. Some people go on to discover t hat there are parts of their struggles that could contribute to positive changes. Once we begin to make sense of the possible causes and effects finding benefits seem to give people a sense of serenity.
For example, in my personal life I have incurred and endured many painful illnesses, especially due to brain disorders or mental incapacitation. It’s unfortunate that God has allowed these to remain despite all the effort and prayer that has gone into reversing the health circumstances.
But I find meaning and purpose in the midst of this sadness, knowing that God will use me and my life events to make me more sensitive and helpful to others going through similar hardships. "You might say I’m a wounded healer". This is a phrase coined by Henry Nouwen.
50 SCQ:
51. SCQ:
52. SCQ:
The Bible calls us to live an abundant life based on the fact that God works all things (especially the difficult) together for our ultimate good. We must accept this promise on the basis of faith not on visible proof in our sensory experience. God also says that He will not allow anything that is TOO difficult to defeat us! He is our shield, source and almighty power.
The concept we are discussing has to do with the fact that God allows good things and bad things to co-exist. Both the negative realities and the positives are noticeable and purposeful. We must turn the control over to God and rest in His peace and power.
Finding benefits:
God invites us to come close to Him and literately sit in His loving consoling lap. Our faith in Him can be a mighty source of transformation and perseverance.
WHAT DO YOU SEE
The 12 spies:
There is a wonderful narrative in the Old Testament about how the Israelite nation went about scouting what their enemies the Canaanites were up to. Scripture says that Moses sent 12 spies to assess the chance for victory in comparing the enemies’ strengths and weaknesses with those of His people.
Joshua and Caleb were 2 spies who had a completely different report concerning what they had seen, from their perspective. They believed that the land was exceedingly good and the Canaanites could easily be defeated. While others said the enemy looked like giants in comparing the stature of the armies, these two convinced the leaders that the same God who had already performed many miracles would prove is power and provision again.
God’s reaction to the negative spies:
God’s reaction to the negative spies was defiance. He was angry and felt they were ignoring His promise to perform miracles and give them the land. Eventually the naysayers came around to the positive perspective and God forgave them and all of their fellow grumblers of their negativity and lack of belief. It’s interesting to note that following this episode all 10 negative spies were struck with a plague and died in the desert.
Joshua and Caleb based their report on what God had told them "I will give you this land for you and your descendants to live in and I will provide bountifully for you in this land." This motivated those who would heed and obey. Despite the appraisal about the dominant size of the enemy "Giants," the strong chose to fight, like David and Goliath.
Your daily perspective on things:
What does this have to do with faith and mental illness? Each day we can choose to look at things in positive or negative ways. It’s natural or normal to make decisions based on what our senses perceive and what is obvious to a natural man who doesn’t have faith in God. But those who have faith in God’s work and see what He provides for us, can base our self-esteem, our lives and our future on His words.
This will eventually lead to positive emotions like peace, joy and hope; precursors to attacking life rather than retreating or giving up. This can be difficult but we must trust God for grace and His power to challenge negative beliefs and assumptions about the future that are based on unhelpful and untrue core thoughts and feelings (as well as old habits that die slow).
God is not surprised by our natural viewpoints and conclusions made on a logical basis without relying on mysterious faith. But He wants those of us who are facing tough circumstances to refrain from complaining and becoming bitter rather than resting on the promises of God.
Your Perspectives:
What thoughts and impressions do you have about your life and circumstances following the biblical account of Joshua and Caleb?
The point of the story is not that God is going to strike us down when we come to decisions that don’t please Him, for none of us can see, know and do His will as He desires. But God sent Jesus as a representative of the sacrifice God paid to purchase forgiveness and make us blameless before God through Christ. What are your thoughts and impressions about this?
Transformation:
(James 1:2-3)
53. SCQ:
END OF PROGRAM