Don’t Stop There!

Have you ever been watching a movie and a person is getting ready to enter a room where the monster or bad guy is hiding? The ominous music is playing, the room is dark, there is a sense of impending danger and we shout, “Don’t go in there!” Sometimes, that is how we treat new romantic or platonic relationships. We think we hear the ominous music playing, the world seems dark and we have an impending sense of danger. So what do we do? We tell our hearts, “Don’t go in there; that is where the monster is hiding!”

Imagine how bleak things looked when Jesus hung His head and died. Look at poor Mary, the mother of Jesus, crying inconsolable tears. Where were the disciples when Jesus needed them the most? It looked like Satan, the Romans, the Jewish religious leaders and the unbelievers have come out victorious. The “monsters” have come out on top or so it appears.

But, just when everything seemed lost, God said, “Don’t stop there! Give me three days and you will be witness to a great new day. If you keep on moving forward, you will be rewarded with a blessing that will exceed your greatest expectations. I risked everything including suffering through the crucifixion of my Son so that I could prove my love for you.”

Fast forward to today. You have been telling your heart “Don’t go in there” because you are afraid to take the risk. You are sick and tired of being sick and tired and you have vowed to never be hurt again. You are convinced that there are “monsters” lurking behind every smile or greeting and you have refused to be taken advantage of. You have slammed the door shut on love by locking up your heart and throwing away the key.

That is just your “foolish heart” talking. Instead of listening to it, try hearing what God is saying. “Don’t stop there” is the divine encouragement being delivered directly to you.

• Don’t stop at that heartache that made you want to give up.
• Don’t stop at the memory of being played by a callous lover.
• Don’t stop at the angry words exchanged when you discovered your romantic partner’s unfaithfulness.
• Don’t stop at the pain of realizing that it was you who played the fool and not your heart.
• Don’t stop at the guilt still lingering from bad decisions and ill-advised actions.

The mighty, all knowing and ever present Creator of all time has promised to come to your rescue if you will just not “Stop There”!

I know it is tempting to dwell on the past pain in your lives, but I pray that God will give you the strength and vision to reach beyond the hurt and receive the bounty of His favor. I assure you that God has blessings beyond your expectations if you will move past the negative experiences of your past. When it comes to the emotional aches that have been holding you back from finding true love, my sincere encouragement is that you Don’t Stop There.

Tomorrow Post “Stop Hugging the Trees!”