Season's Change (3) “A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance”(v4); “A time to tear and a time to mend.”(v7a) (Eccl. 3:4 & 7) <<<Back to Season's Change<<< |
Grieving & Healing [12/01/08]This part of the series look at the purging process; highlighting the importance of going through the process, regardless of the intensity of the pain, in order to receive the healing necessary to bring on laughter and dancing -- true happiness.
The process of tearing down is considered a time of purging. Individuals will be losing things they held dear to their hearts. It will therefore be a time of grieving. But with good support from the body (allowing the broken spirit to be mended) they will cry for just a short while. Psalm 30:5 reminds us as we go through this process that ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’ This process will vary depending on individual’s level of faith. Warning: Do not rush this process. There is a time to grieve, so let the grieving process run its course. This is where individuals need to process what is taking place in their lives and allow for the changes to take place. There’s a process of recognition and acceptance of loss when dying to self. Having accepted the loss of control in doing as they please, the purging process begins in order to refine their character and prepare them be the vessel God so desire them to be. Through each stage of this process of becoming totally committed to Christ, healing and re-building will be necessary for the growth to continue. Then Restoration to their Royal status will be achieved – The prodigal son/daughter returns home and at this stage laughter and dancing returns.
A night for some people may equate to a week or a month long struggle. But for others it may be many years of struggle before they get to that place where total submission to Christ takes place. Many believers, for lack of knowledge and nurturing, fail to complete this process because they enter the faith with preconceived ideas; the myth that it will be smooth sailing and all their struggles will disappear once they give their lives to Christ.
It is therefore important that leaders highlight this point, and help to remove the myth they so often embrace. In my experience I find that this is the point when the struggles actually begin. Why? Because the enemy has lost the battle in seeing that child return to Christ, and so he will use the temptation of old habits to trap them.
They need to understand that choosing this path will sometimes see their friends, partners and associates depart. And there will be problems they will want God to remove but it will be an unanswered prayer because they need to face this particular problem for growth to take place. In other words: there are mountains that God won’t remove but instead give them the strength to climb. And with God in control of their lives, they will be successful in reaching the mountain top.
Once total submission to Christ is achieved, the laughter/dancing will follow. This is where the fruit of the spirit is released and evil desires disappear. The heart rejoices at this stage and the physical evidence of laughter and dancing shows this joy – a sign of one who is happy. You will then share the love of God with your brothers and sisters because you love them. It is a natural process. Being happy in the Lord makes you want to share with others and ignite the fire in them.
© 2008 J.S. Ramkissoon
