The first problem [resulting in us looking for greener pastures] is unhealed pain in our hearts . When we are wounded, it’s like a little place in our souls is broken or crushed. The more pain we experience, the more broken our hearts become. Since this process begins in our very early years, many of us grow up accumulating a lot of pain at the hands of others, our environment, our circumstances, and our own self-sabotage. To try to make the pain stop, we self-medicate through addictive living.
As a result, we end up in terrible bondage, wondering how to end the constant turmoil in our hearts. Only Jesus can heal the pain in our hearts. He is the one who came to bind up the brokenhearted (see Isa. 61:1); it’s His specialty. But instead of turning to Jesus for healing, many people try everything else.
In my own life, I spent many wasted years self-medicating for a variety of reasons. Here are at least three:
Because of these reasons and more, many who seek greener pastures must come to the end of themselves, like the younger son, before they will return to the Father.
This is an excerpt from my new book Loved Like Jesus.
I wrote it because I want you to experience the deep love that your heavenly Father has for you. Living from this reality as a much loved son or daughter, you can rest in a confident connection with Him and experience abundant living and lasting freedom.
Order my book today for yourself and an extra copy for a friend, your pastor and/or your small group.