We don’t have to be defined by our hurt [January 10th]

MAIN IDEA
​It is very important for us to understand that until we meet Jesus in heaven it is impossible to totally avoid being hurt. We will experience pain in different ways in this imperfect world, and sometimes even we will hurt someone.  We don’t have to be defined by our hurt. ​We don’t need to act out of our hurt.
In this lesson we talk about how we might make our identity based on what hurt us. A lot of people act and behave out of the hurt that they have experienced in their lives. 

REACHING THE POINT

 Please watch VIDEO made by SWITCH  YOUTH | youth ministry at Life.Church
What do you think about it? What is the Scott's problem?

 1. Have you ever considered that you might have been hurt at some point in your life by someone? 
The Video shows that Scott has been hurt and the identity that he has is a cover for the pain he feels. 

Maybe you didn’t act out and get into a bunch of trouble because of it, or maybe you did. But maybe you feel insecure because of your pain and you think to yourself, “how could people really like me? or I will never be good enough.” So you just withdraw or you pretend to be someone that you know you’re not or you don’t let people in too easily.
Or maybe you have been hurt in other ways, and it causes you to not trust people so easily.
Have you ever considered that maybe you’ve been hurt? Maybe by a friend or a family member, a parent or sibling, maybe by a coach or teacher… 
​
2.What would you say was the most painful time emotionally in your life? How were you hurt? Why was it so painful?

3.Are you still dealing with that hurt? If so, why? If not, how did you move on from it?

4. Do you think God wants us to be hurt like that? Why doesn’t He do anything about it so we don’t have to experience pain?

We have all experienced hurt to some degree. Not one of us will go through this life without hurt. Do you know why a baby cries the first time it experiences the world? It is painful for the lungs of baby to be filled with an air for the  first time. It hurts, but you can say that the baby won't cry about it forever. We all have experienced hurt. We all will go through it. So, if you have been hurt, know that you are not alone in it. There are others who have gone through or are going through the same things. Some of you have experienced a hurt that is so deep and so dark that you just shove it down inside and try to forget that you have ever been hurt in the first place. Others of you have this constant pain in your life that just won’t seem to go away.
Maybe you’ve been abused, or talked about, or left out, or told that you’re not good enough.
Whatever your hurt might be, know this: you don’t have to hold on to it. You don’t have to be defined by it. You don’t have to act out in it. God can and will set you free from it if you let Him.

Please read JOHN 16:33

This verse is awesome.
​It’s saying that yes there will be trouble in this world. But nothing is too big for God. Nothing you are going through is something that God can’t handle. This world is full of trouble but God has not only overcome the trouble in this world, but He has also overcome this world! Isn’t that awesome?!
There is a God who loves you so much and wants you to be free from it, and grow from it and become who He intended you to be out of it. You don't need to close yourself, you don't need to isolate yourself. And you also don't need to fight back against your hurt. It does not relieve you, instead making you bitter.
Remember that Jesus has been experienced all type of hurt, but it did not change Him inside, He did not do wrong things. His love always helps us to overcome the hurt and keep our heart in peace and help others to go through their hurt right.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE STILL HURT:
1. You may feel yourself safe by isolating yourself, closing  yourself from others.
2. You may find yourself trying to prove that those who hurt you are wrong. You fight for that every time and everywhere.
​3. You don't have peace inside.

 Please read  ROMANS 5:3-5 

What do you think God is telling us trough this scripture? 
God has poured out His love to fill our hearts. He gave us His love through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us.

WAY OUT

So, here’s what you need to do if you’ve been hurt.
1. Never try to hide your hurt from God. Do not think that the fact you feel hurt will disappoint God. Come as you are even if you very MAD or ANGRY. Tell Him what you feel and get His strength to forgive. Let God heal you.
2. Go and forgive whoever you’ve been hurt by.
3. Continue to work on healing from it but begin to move on from it, away from it, and forward from it.

​If that’s you today…if you’ve been hurt and you are carrying pain and today you are saying that you are ready to be freed from it, to move on from it, and you are ready to forgive those who have hurt you and become who God intended you to be come. 

As we’ve been talking about a God who loves you and is in your hurt with you, who cares about you and wants to you be free in this life…maybe today you understand that you’ve never really realized that about God. Maybe you’ve just been living your own life without God, doing things your own way. Today you are reading this because Jesus loves you and He took all your hurt on the Cross.  Only one thing you need to do today is to allow Him to take your hurt from you and let Him to come into your life with His peace and start to live for Him from here on out…
​( Write us your prayer request and we will pray for you)