The Power of Reconciliation

"Your past is not junk; it is simply an opportunity for you to see the beauty of God’s glory. Make peace with it, embrace it, use it to grow through not live in."

-SK Gardner

We all have dreams and aspirations. Moments of complete bliss as we envision our lives and how the big special moments would play out, our families, careers, spouses and children. As children, or even as young adults, the idea that those moments would be stained with test, trials, heartbreak, and even self-doubt never entered our minds. We never imagined that we would question our choices and even our sanity at moments of decision making. Then, there is the inevitable moment when those consequences are staring you right in the face. The moment when you are looking in the mirror and what seems like pieces of yourself, your life, your dreams and you are unsure exactly how you got there.

We are going to discuss how staying in those moments will keep you stagnant. And eventually, how you can become bitter because you feel like God has played a horrible trick on you and your destiny. Those moments were used to make the version of you God imagined when you were created. They were never meant to be used as stagnant, self-doubting, self-deprivation caves for you live in. They were meant to be used for your betterment, growth and development. Those moments were allowed because God knew that He could use them for His glory.

Consequences are not Condemnation

Today, we are going to reconcile with those moments to ensure we are thriving, not just surviving. Reconciliation is the act of restoring friendly relations between or to cause to coexist in harmony. The second definition really resonated with me. Our inability to reconcile with our past is often because we try to wish it away. However, we should consider the contrary. How can we coexist with our pain in way that yields benefits? In this past Sunday's message, my pastor stated, “the consequences are not there to condemn you but to remind you not to go back.” So, coexisting in harmony with the past is not dwelling there, but more so, using it as a reminder to not go back and not to live there.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Reconciliation is a gift that God gave us through Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, God does not look at our past and sees junk. He looks at it with the eyes of the Father to bring glory and restoration to our lives.

Collateral Beauty

This revelation came to me after watching a movie with Will Smith, Collateral Beauty. In the movie, Howard was so consumed with grief, because of the death of his daughter; that he questioned time, love and death. He found it difficult to reconcile what he envisioned for their lives, with his now reality of living without her. Of course, this is an extreme example of reconciliation. But we all have moments where we are unable to reconcile our visions and desires with reality. The idea here, is that beauty can be found even in the ugliest of circumstances. You may have to look harder in some situations, but it is there. It requires faith to see it.

Bitter or Better

God revealed to me that our inability to reconcile our dreams/thoughts with the tests of life, can leave us bitter, withdrawn, and unable to truly connect on a deeper level with those around us. This creates a barrier, a wall that prevents us from coming out, and allowing others in. You feel unseen, those close to you feel unseen, resulting in miscommunication. Reconciliation is needed to move forward and to learn the lesson that God has waiting for us to learn. Bitterness is a nasty taste that life can leave in your spirit, that prevents you from truly tasting the goodness of Jesus and all He has prepared for you to enjoy.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31

"In reconciling with your past, you are able to find peace, and move forward; knowing that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for them that love Him. I encourage you to test your heart and your spirit, to uncover what bitter evoking moments are lying dormant. What has you unable to reconcile what you envisioned with your present moment? Seek reconciliation with those moments and know that nothing goes unused with God. He can use that too sis!"

Beauty for Ashes

Reconciliation allows God to give you beauty for ashes. In Isaiah 61:3, it speaks of God giving beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we might be called the trees of righteousness, planted by the Lord that He might be glorified. How beautiful is that? The very idea that God will trade what we consider “junk,” for something as beautiful as His glory.

I have struggled with this idea. Thinking, “Lord, you could have used another way, another method, or another person, for that matter, to convey this message. I could have read that in book, why did I have to experience that? And His reply to those questions and thoughts, I will make it beautiful. WOW!!!

Your past is not junk; it is simply an opportunity for you to see the beauty of God’s glory. Make peace with it, embrace it, use it to grow through not live in.

Today, I encourage you to reconcile with your past; and what you thought would be with the greatness and insurmountable sovereignty of God’s power. I know sometimes it may feel like He has forgotten about you and that your life seems topsy-turvy. You are just where God wants you!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11.

Reconciliation Challenge

Have you reconciled with your past? With your decisions, choices and consequences? Be honest with yourself. Write those moments down, so you can make peace with them and move forward in becoming the best version of yourself! You got this! We got this!