Day 6

29 Jan Day 6

Scripture:  James 5:15-16 NLT – “Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Observation:  Humans are flawed individuals and we all sin. But when you hold onto that mistake you made or that sin you committed, it gives the enemy an opportunity to tell you that you are only as good as your sin. Once you put your faith in Jesus, you know that his sacrifice on the cross covers up your sins. You start to realize the importance of sharing your life (even the parts that are difficult to talk about) with people you can trust who are going the same direction spiritually as you.

Application: When I was a kid growing up, there was always something magical about family vacations. I know most people would probably say the same about their own experiences; but for me, it was more than just getting to visit a new place or see new sights. It was one of the few times where I didn’t feel this overwhelming, and sometimes painful anxiety, over all that was happening within my home.

As an only child, often people would assume things about me – spoiled was usually what I heard most often. But for me, all I felt most days was alone. Alone to mediate between two bickering parents. Alone to clean up the stains of alcoholism that left shattered glasses on the kitchen floor, or angry words reverberating in my ears. Alone to clean up tears and play parent… when all I wanted to do was play with dolls.

But for a brief moment in time, when we would go away as a family on our annual trip to The Florida Keys, it was like all the anger and pain would be temporarily forgotten, and we were a happy family – enjoying the palm trees, white sandy beaches, and clear blue water.

It wasn’t until years later that I gained the courage to talk about some of these mixed memories… the happy mixed with the sad. Just because our circumstances are not “perfect” (in life, in your faith, in your relationship with Jesus) does not mean that we allow them to derail our journey. I have learned that healing begins when you stop holding it all inside, lying to yourself that no one else could possibly understand. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to build relationships with friends at church, connecting on the J-Team and in a J-Group, and being encouraged to help others by sharing my experiences with others. We all live imperfect lives, the important [thing] is that we always strive to be closer to God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your unconditional love for us. I pray for the courage to stop hiding from my fears, to know that I am not a product of my past, but that I am unconditionally loved by you. You sent your only son to die on the cross for us, so we could step out boldly and declare our relationship with you eclipses our sins and our pasts. Let us be free from the chains of our pain and anxiety. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

Going Deeper: 

• What might be some hurts that you might be holding onto? What would it look like for you to hand over those hurts to Jesus, confess, and allow Jesus to start healing your heart? 
• Dive into this message from Pastor Mark: “If God is so good, why are things so bad?”

Jayme Rollo/ Communications Writing Director, Evening Program Class of 2021

Jayme Rollo currently serves as a leader for overseeing the written communications throughout The Journey. Her kindness and encouragement helps the team be creative to spread the good news about Jesus. Jayme has been gathering since 2017 and her 5 year old daughter loves gathering with Journey Kids. She is a 2021 graduate of the JLI Evening Program, and that has refined her leadership skills.