Reflections4Life™ August 22, 2022
“Breaking Life Crutches”
“Jesus said, “If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.” John 9:41
Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 32; 1 Samuel 3;4; 1 Chronicles 7; Acts 5...
©Ruthe McDonald.
I am reminded of an important truth that many of us may not see; especially when you love someone. When you love so deeply as a spouse, a parent, a child, or a sibling, there are times when we may allow our love for another to hinder a move of God from happening in our loved one's life and even our own. Unwittingly, we become a tool in the enemy's plan to destroy our loved ones and sabotage ourselves by not following what God said. Instead, we yield to the heartstrings pulled by our flesh. Beloved, it is time to break every crutch.
I declare that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Lay it all on the altar—including your loved ones—and leave it/them there. Trust God to do what needs to be done in their lives, as well as your own. Allow the peace of God to rest in your heart concerning the ones you love and your own life journey before you. Trust everything to the Father's capable hands.
It is never easy seeing loved ones suffer. It is in some of our natures to be nurturers and caregivers; always being there in the time of someone's need. There comes a time, however, when we must step back and learn to allow them to walk their own path, to fall, if they must, and let God be the One to pick them up.
Sometimes our help becomes a hindrance, blocking the move of God in a person's life. Think about it this way: What if you constantly carry your child around? What if you carried them everywhere, for fear that they would hurt themselves? How would they learn to walk? To know if it is possible to get back up and start again? How would they come to the understanding that sometimes you can be bruised, but in time, healing will come? How will they learn not to be scared but to have faith?
You would be responsible for crippling your child for the rest of their life. You would be depriving them of learning their own strengths, and weaknesses, and learning how to take care of themselves when the time came. They would never develop strong legs or a tough bottom if all you ever did were carry them. They must learn to walk on their own. Moreover, in the process, gain strength in their legs, learn that they can get back up, and learn that they can walk on their own.
If we know the truth and do not abide by that truth; live and walk in that truth, we are just as guilty by going along with those who are sinning against God. By not standing up for truth and speaking out against what we know to be wrong, we are a crutch to those who will do wrong. Our silence or allowance for such behaviors makes us part of the sin and liable for the consequences that follow.
God does not fault us for loving our children or wanting what is best for them. But we cannot be the kind of parent that does not give correction or discipline, holding our children accountable for their actions. We can often become a crutch for those we love by constantly bailing them out, never allowing them to face the consequences of their actions. How can our loved ones come to learn accountability and responsibility if we continue to provide a license for them to do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it without any repercussions for their actions? We become just as guilty as they.
God knows our hearts. He knows all that we do and say. He knows our thoughts before we think them. Yet, many of us have knowingly lied and covered up sins and wrongdoings for those we may love, believing that we are showing loyalty and unconditional love. Being a crutch and making excuses for sin is not loyalty or unconditional love; it is being an enabler.
The Father is holding us accountable for our actions and inactions. He is not idly sitting upon His throne and watching us, winking at our iniquities. He is not moved by our devotion to our loved one's sinful behaviors. He is not pleased by the excuses we make for them or for ourselves. God is holding us accountable and their blood is on our hands. How can we know the truth and not live it or teach the truth? How can we say we love God and love our family and not allow God to do what needs to be done in their lives? We cannot continue to make excuses, or become an excuse, or continue to bail out our loved ones and expect them to become who God has ordained for them to be.
If we sincerely love them, we must be willing to let them fall and get back up on their own. We must be willing to let them walk their walk on their own, learning, growing, and coming to God for themselves. There is only one Savior, and His name is Jesus Christ. Tough love is often allowing those we love and care for to come to the realization that only God can deliver them and save them from the course their life has taken. Do not be the crutch that eventually brings death—spiritually and physically—to the ones that you say you love. Let God be God. If they fall, allow God to pick them up. Stop being a pawn in the enemy’s plots and schemes.
My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Break the crutches today. Place your loved ones on the altar, allowing God to do for them what He has ordained for them. Let Jesus become their Savior and Deliverer. Move out of God's way and see what the Father will do when you have complete faith in Him. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!
©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.
