Even when the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead, emotional healing is still painful. If you will let the Spirit of the Lord direct your recovery program, He will always be there to provide the strength you need in each phase, so that whatever trials you may have to face, you will be able to bear them.

Even though the Lord has promised never to leave us nor forsake us(Heb. 13:5), when we get ahead of God and begin to "do our own thing," we are in dangerous territory. Our heavenly Father is under no obligation to sustain us in bearing trials that were never a part of His plan for us. We may well survive, but the process will involve much more struggle than was necessary.

The pain of emotional wounding and healing can be even more traumatic than physical pain. When you are following God's revealed plan, and you come to painful times, remember that the Holy Spirit is the Strengthener. Sometimes it may seem that you are not going to make it through. At such moments, ask the Lord to strengthen you.

A great Scripture to memorize for these difficult times is 1 Corinthians 10:13 in which the Apostle Paul reminds us that...no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads) has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

With such hard times come many temptations. Among these is the temptation to give up and revert to old thoughts and ways, to become negative, depressed and angry with God because you do not understand why He does not seem to be providing the way out of all the pain you have had to bear in your life. Yet this passage of Scripture tells us that God will always intervene on our behalf and that His help will always arrive on time. Purpose in your heart to hold on and not let go!

- By Joyce Meyer -

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5)