I was having a conversation with someone the other day, and the Lord impressed upon me something that is very significant. Many people go to church Sunday after Sunday with feelings to rejection, abandonment and fear. Many are forgiven, but not delivered from the shackles of their wounded souls. There are those who have been rejection by a mom or dad, a sibling, a boss or a co-worker, a pastor or a group of believers. The sting of the rejection is real and still plagues the life of many. There are those who have poured themselves into their children, their work, or their ministries to seek approval and affirmation from others. There are those who seek out the approval of others to feel the void of their rejection in their hearts.
We are unable to share our faith because we are injured in our hearts. The pain of that failed marriage or our unruly children; our dads did not love us the way a man should his children; the overbearing boss takes us for granted. We begin to exalt our denominations, and point out our distinct differences and how one is better than the other. When, in fact, both suffer from rejection, abandonment and fear; both are ineffective. Neither group of believers is able to help each other because the issue is the wound in the heart. The fear of rejection cripples us to the point that we stay right where are, and we focus on outer appearances because that’s where we are safe and secure. However, hearts of His people are still bleeding because our affirmation solely comes from Jesus Christ alone, not things that we do or the people that affirm us. What happens when we don’t receive the affirmation that we think we deserve? If no one ever pats on us the back, do we still have the joy of the Lord or does it cause us to stop everything because someone does not respond the way we think they should?
There is a difference in being delivered and being forgiven. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, in James 5: 16, Confess your trespasses[e] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be HEALED. Notice, God forgives us when we confess our sins to Him, but He HEALS us when we confess to another brother or sister in the body. Jesus Christ, the Deliverer, wants you to be in close and intimate relationships with one another, just like He is close and intimate relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Confession to another is a process in which another person walks you through and helps you discover the root of your rejection, abandonment and fear. Our brother or sister in Christ in the vessel our Great High Priest uses. The Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance what caused you to be rejected, abandoned and fearful. In that moment of our complete understanding and submission, it is then, our Deliverer comes in to HEAL our broken hearts. Jesus says in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He (Father in Heaven) has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Many are wounded in the church, and unable to help the hurting outside the church. Confession is not only good for the soul, but invites another believer, the Holy Spirit and the Deliverer to bring us to a point of true freedom. Many are not free because we are not effectively communicating with one another. We may be forgiven, but we are not delivered. Many are hurt, and do not know what to do, who to turn to, and are going through the motions to look like Christians, but in fact, are a wounded soldier wandering aimlessly in the wilderness! This is Christian counseling is its best! It is a Divine calling.