Pain is an invitation to surrender
Written by Lakea Kelly
Jesus said in John 16:33 (New International Version): But take heart! I have conquered the world. ” “You have greatness within” are words I consistently heard from my former pastor. These words didn't resonate with me until one day, problems started hitting me from left to right. These worries made me so exhausted that I knelt down in my living room and began to pray with tears in my eyes. I began praying, “Lord, I surrender, I say yes to Your will.” “I can no longer run away from my troubles. I must now run to the one who will save me from my troubles. There is greatness within me.” I was ready to discover the hidden greatness that lies dormant. In the midst of saying yes and surrendering to God, I was battling depression.
Often through life's trials, tribulations, and traumas, depression creeps in and takes hold until all hope is lost. I feel like I have no vision, no direction, no life, no strength to move forward in life. This is what the demon of depression does. It tries to kill, steal and destroy your purpose. It constantly gives you negative thoughts and tries to give you such a bad perspective about yourself that you want to hide under a cave and wither away. This was the effect of depression in my life, my emotions and mental state were suffering day and night. I had no peace. I was alive but without purpose.
I cried out to God day and night in despair not only for my life but also for the lives of my sons. I had to look beyond myself to find a way out. Looking beyond myself led me to seek God with genuine desperation. In doing so, I was able to experience healing from God that I had never experienced before. Like a loving and caring father, he began to speak to the wounds in my soul. He began to show me that I was accepted instead of rejected. All the lies of having no purpose were shattered, but this only happened because I surrendered my will for the Lord. I decided to stop running. I decided to stop running away from the only person who gave me hope and a future. Before I surrendered to God, I tried to achieve happiness in my relationships. There was an expectation in these relationships to fill a void that only God could do, and when that expectation was not met, I felt disappointed, disappointed, rejected, and empty. I felt alone.
Often times the suffering in life causes people to recoil in shame and rejection, but it is an invitation to come to God. It is an invitation to know God and discover the hidden purpose and mission within you. As King David said in Psalm 119:67, “How could I know Him unless I had suffered?” When we surrender our pain to God, there is a gift that comes from that pain. We discover the gift of peace and joy. We realize that we have something to offer the world through our gifts and talents. After one of my life's disappointments, God created my book, TransHERmation: How God Can Take Everything You've Been Through and Transform You for His Glory, and my coaching and mentoring program. When we accept God's will and say “yes” to Him, He has more in store for all of us.
If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of pain and despair, know that there is hope. God is ready to meet you in your struggle and lead you to healing and purpose. Don't let the weight of your burdens stop you from discovering the greatness within you. Take a step of faith today and surrender your pain to God. Accept God's invitation to change your life for His glory.
Join me on the TransHERmation journey and see how God can turn your trials into victories. Ask for help, dive into God's Word, and allow His love to guide and strengthen you. Remember you are not alone. God has a plan for your life, and it is full of hope and a future. Say yes to the Lord and watch miracles happen.
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Author, Coach, Mentor, Christian Speaker Lakea Kelly
Lakea Kelly helps ambitious Christian women who are struggling with rejection and a lack of identity to become their best selves, to become authentic, bold, and influential women in their chosen careers, professions, and businesses. We will support you.
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