WOUNDED WARRIOR? LEAVING MY HURT BEHIND?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (2 part)
Jeremiah 10:19 Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
Could we be hopelessly wounded? Do we pick scabs? Is our hurt and wound severe? Do we realize I must deal with it? I must bear it! WE CAN NEVER KNOW THE POWER OF A WOUNDED, HURT SPIRIT UNTIL IT CRUSHES US.
BE HONEST: ARE YOU WOUNDED? WHAT CAN HURT DO TO ME? What hurts me? Can we see things are going from bad to worse, seems if time stands everyone will be hating each other.
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
**WOUNDED: offended, upset, inflicted with injury, hurt, suffering, harm, damaged, traumatic
**HURT: wound, SCATTER, BREAK, BRUISE, anguish, physical, mental, emotion and or spiritual injury, pain, unhappiness caused by words or actions,
Is there a difference in HEAD HURT and HEART HURT?
THE GOAL? WHAT IS THE GOAL? WHAT TRIES TO HINDER OUR GOALS…? PAUL USES A METAPHORS FOR LIVING A LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND FOR JESUS CHRIST.
The whole purpose of running a race is to win. There must be hours of training and preparation to succeed. We think of training as controlled PURPOSE.
The prize was not a gold metal, the prize was a wreath. Wreaths are temporary in nature. They don’t last long. We run for an eternal crown that will last forever… Then never forget we will be with Christ forever.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Life brings hurt and pain.
We must run to finish, to win. REAL WORTH WHILE GOALS ARE SELDOM ACHIEVED WITHOUT GIVING HARD EFFORT AND GIVE UP THINGS THAT WOULD COST US THE VICTORY. We must pay the price faithful, self-denial, exercise, self-control and staying faithful. We must overcome the daily obstacles and difficulties.
We can’t afford to become a failure, a cast away. We must clearly define our priorities, focus clearly, stay organized, self-evaluation, motivation, and passion.
QUESTION WHY DO PEOPLE PLAY SPORTS HURT? DO WE ACCEPT HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE?
IS IT ABOUT THE MONEY THEY GET PAID? Do people that keep playing hurt, is it about fame and prestige? May I suggest those that play hurt it is all about the love of what they are doing…
46664… PRISONER 46664…
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
There are times it seems our hurt and wounds are our testing zones and we are put on display for others to mock. It is like the spectacle at the end of a victor’s parade. We are condemned to be treated like everybody’s trash. WOUNDED AND HURT.
In 1962, Prisoner 46664, Nelson Mandela was arrested and placed in prison. He served 27 years in 3 different prisons. His first 18 years was in the BRUTAL Robben Island Prison. He was locked up in a cell with no bed and no plumbing, 7 FEET BY 7 FEET... He was allowed one letter every 6 months. Once a year Mandela was allowed one visit for 30 minutes. Mandela was finally released in 1990 after 27 years.
Mandela was all about ATTITUDES and WORDS. Once Mandela was speaking of his 27 years in prison. He said: “I WENT FOR A LONG HOLIDAY FOR 27 YEARS.” Nelson wrote an autobiography
“ THE LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. ”
NELSON BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS PRISONERS. WHEN NELSON MANDELA WAS LEAVING PRISON CONFINEMENT AFTER 27 YEARS HE SPOKE SOME WORDS TO WHICH WE NEED TO LISTEN:
Wounds that can’t be seen are more painful than those that can be seen and cured by a doctor.
“ As I stand before the door of my freedom, I realize that if I do not leave my pain, hurt, anger and bitterness behind me I will still be in prison.”
In 1993 Mandela was awarded the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. IN 1994 MANDELA WAS ELECTED THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Forgiveness does not make you weak, it sets you free…
MANY YEARS AGO I HEARD A LESSON BY THE PASTOR OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HE WAS AN OLD MAN NEAR THE END OF LIFE, WAYNE B. SMITH OF LEXINGTON, KY. HE WAS SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF YOUNG PREACHERS. HIS WOUNDS IN MINISTRY REVEALED GREAT WISDOM.
Wayne likened life and ministry to modern sports. He said: “ I am told that playing in the National Football League is like hitting a brick wall. The players are trained and conditioned for endless hours, but ALL NFL PLAYERS MUST LEARN TO PLAY HURT.” Life is more than money, fame… life is about finding joy in difficult situations and learning to THRIVE.
THERE WAS A GREAT NFL PLAYER NAMED TOMMY BELL. Tommy played high school football at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, KY. Tommy was playing in a game and he got hurt and took himself out of the game. On the sideline the Coach asked Tommy what he was doing?
The coach said: “ BELL, WHY DID YOU COME OUT OF THE GAME?” Tommy replied: “COACH, I THINK I BROKE MY LEG?” The Coach said: “BELL, GET BACK IN THE GAME UNTIL YOU ARE SURE IT IS BROKEN!”
WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?
One retired NFL player was being interviewed by a sports commentator. The retired player was in a wheelchair. The player gladly reported he played in 383 NFL GAMES. He had 40 surgeries, 30+ knee surgeries, 3 major back surgeries. He played games with 5 metal rods in his back.
THE REPORTER ASKED: WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? Without any hesitation the player answered: “ABSOLUTELY!”
IN REAL MENIAL DAILY LIFE WE MUST LEARN TO PLAY HURT… WE CAN’T AFFORD TO QUIT…
The Lexington Herald Leader (8/96) penned these words about making it to the SUPER BOWL. Good athletes are willing to sacrifice body parts, pills, needles, bite their lips in throbbing pain that becomes unbearable. They play their position and do their job regardless. THEY PLAY HURT OR THEY DON’T PLAY.
WALTER (JERRY) PAYTON:
Payton played college ball at Columbia, Mississippi. Walter was considered too small to make it in the NFL. He played 13 seasons. (1975 to 1987) as a running back for a weak team, the Chicago Bears. He set the rushing yard records at 16,726. He made a total of 21,803 yards. He made 110 touchdowns. 10 times Payton had 1,000 yard seasons. In 1977 he set single game record at 275 yards.
Payton was one of the most gifted, strongest, toughest and durable players. Once in his 23 year NFL career did Payton miss a game? Payton’s coaches and trainers were all amazed at the PERSISTENCE. Payton played with colds, fever, knees hurting, hamstring pulls, elbows swollen and a fractured rib.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
CONCLUSION: To be wounded and hurt is just as much a part of life as breathing is. No one can wound and hurt you without your permission. Some hurts and wounds seem to never completely heal --- They bruise and bleed easily at the slightest hint of an issue. IT IS NOT WHO HURT YOU THAT MATTERS, WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE DECISION TO GET UP AND TRY AGAIN.
MOTHER TERESA SAID: I HAVE FOUND A PARADOX THAT IF YOU LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS, THERE CAN BE NO MORE HURT, ONLY MORE LOVE…
At the end of your journey it is not how many wounds and hurts that have crushed you… at the end it is how you have forgiven and tried again. Suffering is inevitable, misery is optional.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
