You Don't Have to Apologize

There’s a quote that reads, “Don’t Look Back, You’re Not Going That Way.” I suppose there are multiple ways in which one can interpret this but what it says to me is, don’t allow your past to keep you facing the direction of what’s behind you. Instead, learn to face forward in the direction of your future because it could lead to peace, joy, growth, healing and deliverance. By focusing on what’s in front of us; we stop allowing the past to deflect that focus. When we make the decision to shift our eyes on where we need to go, we then do what’s necessary to get there.

With God, and ONLY God, you can have strength to focus on where you want to go in life no matter what comes your way. You can have the faith needed to trust God that will take you where He wants you to go. Faith doesn’t come easily, it comes through fire, darkness, trials and tribulation. When you can’t see your way out of a situation and you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel; have faith. When you believe God told you something, but you can’t see anything happening, yet you still make the decision to trust Him, that is faith. It is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something that comes automatically, instead, it’s something we must continuously work on and it results in drawing us closer to God. 

Faith is a necessary pre-requisite to healing and deliverance. Healing is defined as: growing sound, getting well, mending. Is there any part of you that needs to be mended or needs to get well? Deliverance is defined as: ‘salvation’; the act of saving or protecting from harm… and ‘liberation’; to set free, as from imprisonment or bondage. Your mind can keep you in bondage and imprisonment if you allow it…STOP allowing it! When you have thoughts you no longer want, say NO more! When you have emotions you want to let go of, say NO more! When you worry about things you can’t change or control, say NO more! These are forms of imprisonment and bondage. We can be enslaved to our minds when we don’t allow God to heal and deliver us from what’s going on within us. His Word tells us He’s made himself available to us to HEAL us from everything we face in life.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”   Romans 8:6 

During a recent holiday, one of two cousins whom molested me was invited to dinner. In addition, someone else was invited who intentionally spreads lies on me to anyone who will listen. The relative who invited these individuals is aware of this but invited them anyway. I thought about it for a while and made the conscience decision that even though I’m healed and delivered from molestation, NO part of me had to subject myself to his presence. In addition, being in the same space with someone who consistently lies about me wasn’t at the top of my list either. In that moment, I decided to say, NO. I let the hosts of the dinner know that I would eat elsewhere due to my discomfort of the individuals invited. Needless to say, they weren’t happy about it but I have to live my life for God and for Clarice’s peace…NO ONE ELSE. Even when your flesh in blood won’t understand your decisions, your healing or your deliverance, as long as you’re in alignment with God, that is ALL that matters.

Word of Caution: When you are healed and delivered, DO NOT be surprised when others (even those closest to you) don’t share in the excitement. You are now free from pain, released from a stronghold but everyone won’t understand your newfound freedom. There are multiple types of ‘Strongholds’: the stronghold of anger, depression, hurt, a relationship, an addiction, etc. My personal definition of a stronghold is: something or someone you want to be mentally/physically free from but struggle to obtain and maintain that freedom. When the day comes, and you’re FREE from your stronghold, free from pain, free from anything, anyone and any situation that caused your smile to fade, your peace to subside and your heart to break, when that day comes, do NOT apologize for being healed from it!

Please understand your healing and deliverance may not look like everyone else’s. Your healing may mean you’ve forgiven someone and still choose not to be in their presence. Guess what? THAT IS OK. Forgiving someone for what they’ve done to you or against you doesn’t mean you have to purposely be in their presence, laugh with them or converse with them. Some would say, if you can’t do those things you haven’t forgiven them. Do NOT believe that rhetoric. If you were once a victim, you can become the VICTOR. You can share your testimony, offer encouragement, inspire others, while all the while being a Christian, even if you never speak to your offender again.

DO NOT allow someone or a situation take away your voice to say, NO MORE! You DON’T have to live your life as a victim, you DON’T have to be enslaved by what happened, you DON’T have to subject yourself to the presence of the one who hurt you but IF you’re in their presence for some reason; you DON’T have to allow them control over your mind, your heart, your spirit or your emotions. You DON’T have to be afraid or apologize for your healing!

Everyone won’t be happy for you, nor will everyone understand your deliverance or even believe that you are for that matter. Despite the fact, you DO NOT have to apologize for your freedom. Allow God to heal you. Allow God to deliver you. When this has taken place, THANK HIM because He alone can bless you with it. Live your life in victory and make no apologies for being better, being whole, being healed, being delivered, being free and being who God has called you to be. Don’t allow ANYONE to shame you for it either because remember this, it’s not about where you’ve been, it’s about where you’re going, allow God to take you there.