Warts

Warts grow on the skin as part of a virus. These tiny growths take up root and the nerves below it are often numb. If you’ve had one before, they are usually annoying and last until you decide to take care of them. Once you do, you can suddenly feel those nerves again.
Several reasons could have caused your heart to grow numb. A friend betrayed your trust, a toxic relationship ruined your ability to trust, your family still doesn’t believe you’ll amount to anything. Or maybe it isn’t your heart, it’s your spirit of joy or the ability to trust and have faith in others. It’s that voice in your head that’s protecting you from being vulnerable again. Maybe you’ve been holding onto guilt over something. And over time you’ve built a callus around that pain so you won’t feel it.
What if Joseph did that? His family betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He worked so hard, but was put in jail even though he was innocent. He could have hardened his heart towards people and stopped trusting them. But he didn’t. He had faith, and God delivered him to save the people of that town and the very family that betrayed him.
God never wanted us to live in fear, numbness, or bitterness. He wants us to live in joy and a fearless spirit. But above all, trusting Him to deliver us. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, but that does mean it’ll be great. Just like in Joseph’s story, God uses pain and our stories for a mission.
I tell you guys repeatedly of different stories in my life. But the amount of pain and brokenness I’ve experienced, God uses to grow this ministry and continue to show His abounding love. I could have locked myself in a room and never seen the sunlight again, but instead, I have overcome my pain for the purpose God has in this ministry. That doesn’t change how it feels, but it does change my focus.
My prayer for you all today is to seek God. There’s something that’s been holding you back, and you’ve been numb to it. You’ve built a wall or a callus around that vulnerable spot. You’ve changed your ability to trust others. Whatever it looks like for you, I want you to pray over it. God is a healer, and He has the ability to heal you and show you how to walk in faith.
“His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said. But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God untended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” -Genesis 50:18-21
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” -Hebrews 12:14-15

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