Detangling
Have you ever had a knot in one of your necklaces? You know, one of those really tight little buggers that requires little tools and patient precision to loosen it.
Maybe it's just me, but I consider untangling a necklace knot one of life's greatest accomplishments.
It's almost as fun as untying the knots of rejection.....almost.
The deep hurt of rejection knots us up in ways we cannot always express as we wrestle with the questions of why this happened and point the blame inward:
Why didn't they want me? Knot
Why didn't I see this coming? Knot
What is wrong with me? Knot
Can I trust myself to trust again? Knot
Let's do some detangling, shall we?
The Knot - They didn't want me.
Their behavior hurt you, that is true. And, the truth is, they probably were thinking very little about you when they did what they did. They were thinking of themselves.
The dark whispers encircled them, convincing them they were right and justified to do what they did. Consequences and impact be damned. It was about feeding their egos and desires, not about the rejection of you.
You are loved, wanted, desired, and cherished by God and so many in this world. Don't let the foolishness of one erase that undeniable truth.
The Knot - I should have seen this coming.
You didn't see this coming because you are a sweet, loving, and good-hearted person who believes in the best in people. God gave you those qualities which make you so special.
He certainly doesn’t want you wandering the earth, paranoid and pessimistic looking for the worst in people, now does He?
You deserve to have people in your life who treat you with love, kindness, and respect. You should be on the lookout for those people and those behaviors. Anything else should feel foreign and absolutely unacceptable to you.
The Knot - What is wrong with me?
NOTHING is wrong with you. What is wrong is believing that others' negative behaviors are somehow your fault or responsibility. On the contrary, it is their choices. You did nothing to deserve this.
Sure, you can look back and see some red flags you may have ignored, and learn some valuable lessons from this.
But, and let me say this real loud for the people in the back, NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU!
The Knot - Can I trust myself to trust again?
It's so hard to trust again after you have been hurt. That is completely understandable.
Allow yourself some time to heal and loosen the knots of lies that you have begun to believe from this experience. Take your time and be honest with what you are feeling.
God will cancel out the untruths and untie what crumples you up. Slowly, you will feel stronger and ready to trust again.
In the meantime, focus on God and what He is telling you about you and how much He loves and wants you, just as you are. You can always trust in that.
Let these truths and God's love help you untangle these knots, dear one. Do not let the lies that knot you up hold you captive any longer!
Let God show you how you can forgive them and release.
Together, you can detangle these little buggers, one knot at a time.
Oh and just in case you forgot, God loves you, and so do I!
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Proverbs 3: 5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Psalm 28: 6-7
For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.