Because of Our Chains

Because of our Chains—

“As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
Philippians 1:13-14

Because of our chains; Because of our despair, Because of our pain; Because of our struggle; Because of our mess –it actually inspires others when we are able to go through those things triumphantly. People can say –“Wow! They conquered that!”

They weren’t hidden chains that Paul had.  Some things are so obvious that we go through. Those deep things that no one really wants to talk about or get into. Yet, it becomes our story where it works to help others.

By your story—not what we have that makes us beautiful (hair, face, clothing, weight) what makes us beautiful is our positive attitude.  Even through the dark times we really push through. Not everybody can recover.  In periods of brokenness—it didn’t destroy you.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

A lot of people go through situations and they never recover—they don’t bounce back. They are never the same again and not all is positive. If we are never the same again it should be for God’s glory.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18

So many deep trials that people go through and many just don’t recover.

What now becomes a part of your story is—how did you do it?

How did you survive? How did you get up? How did you smile?

How did you find the strength to even show up anywhere?

What were your thoughts?

For every level is a new devil, so we need to write it down—testify—use it as a manual, a learning tool in life should we experience other pressing and challenging situations.

How do I keep positive in the midst of turmoil?

How do I smile? How do I find beauty in brokenness?

How do I find who I am when I’m losing everything that seems to define me?

Those are things we can share—powerful testimonies.

Even when it wasn’t easy, through the night watches –how did you overcome?  Through that dark.

It’s always about changing a mindset! I have to learn to change the way that I think of myself or about my situation. There is beauty in broken things.  I love the definition of broken—because it doesn’t mean that you don’t work.  It just means that you are not functioning properly! You still function—and the rest that is missing God places His grace over it. You are just reduced.  Smaller—and God does GREAT things with less!!! A lot of those things happen so we don’t get so big of ourselves or think we can do it alone.

• past participle of break.
• reduced to fragments; fragmented.
• ruptured; torn; fractured.
• not functioning properly; out of working order.

When you turn it around—I am a survivor! I am not offended! I am going to move on. We become so victorious.

We all have a unique story worth sharing. Tell the world! Facebook, IG, Twitter—write a blog; a book; create a video!  It’s so worth it! We have to learn when we go through it.

Still smiling, laughing.  When you went through the break up, the sickness, the darkness and all the loss.

Those things we do through it, that make us such a powerful person IN GOD!

There is always a moment we all have where we thought we were going to lose it!

Can’t emphasize enough how we respond to pure pain, emptiness, treatment, loss – can be so mind blowing.

Remembering those dark moments, you realize that in those times you can’t really help someone.  We wish we can remove the pain for us and even for others.  But we go through it.  Through many agonizing times, but it does and serves its purpose.  It’s our tool, our fuel—it is what God is going to use.  Our thorn.  It doesn’t matter what the thorn is—a thorn is a thorn and we all have them.  Sad in itself but that it makes one so powerful in God.

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Not only going through loss in some way –other things can counterattack us to try to silence us. But we can speak up and confess that God is able to help us through. We cancel out the seeds that the enemy tries to sow and allow God’s seeds of hope to grow!

We will be a witness! We will testify! We can share! We can explain! We can uplift! We can get through this! Because of our chains—it advances the gospel.

***For Yarina Orellana***

With Love,
Christina