I’ve been loving being able to have this little space to write (although haven’t written near as much as I want to- hello summer break!). God is constantly flooding my mind with things to write about on here- I need to start carrying a notebook. I’m not really sure what brought this topic to mind, but it came so I’m going with it.
I’m a social worker and the majority of my job is spent working with people who are in some sort of crisis or have experienced one. Almost all of them have been victims in some way, shape or form- whether it be a crime, abuse, emotional situations. I’ve noticed a pattern recently with people that are in my various circles: they seem to be “stuck” in victim mode. The therapeutic term would be victim mentality or mindset- believing that once they’re a victim, they’re always a victim. They get stuck in this vicious cycle of blame, guilt and shame that repeats itself constantly.
I understand that things happen to us that cause us a lot of pain and hurt. It’s easy to become jaded and cynical- to think that the world is not a safe place and everyone is out to hurt us. As I was thinking about this, I began to look at how God looks at us and at our circumstances.
We are more than a product or victim of our circumstances. Yes, bad things happen. Yes, we are hurt and bitter. I guarantee you that when God looks at you, He’s not looking at you through the eyes of your circumstances. Instead, He’s looking at you through the lens of grace and love. He’s looking at you through the lens of a Father who dearly loves his children and created them for a purpose. Psalm 139: 13-14: “For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Our past does not define us. We don’t have to live in the past. If we are believers, then we are made new. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Learn the lessons from the past and move forward with the knowledge of what you’ve learned. Don’t sit and wallow in it.
We have freedom in Christ. Freedom! Not only freedom from sin, but freedom from guilt. We can walk in that freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” As I read this verse, I was struck by something and I had to go back and read it a few more times. I’ve probably read this verse hundreds of times but didn’t see this until now. Because we have the Holy Spirit living in us , we have freedom.” IN US! This is the very same power that rose Christ from the grave sets us free. The freedom that comes from Christ alone- there aren’t enough words to describe how that freedom changes our everything.
Because of this freedom, because of what Christ did for us on the cross- we no longer have to be victims. We can be victorious.