Anita

Agers-Brooks

Author

Anita Agers-Brooks is an International Speaker and Inspirational Coach. She's also the author of First Hired, Last Fired -- How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market and Getting Through What You Can't Get Over. She believes it's never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith. You can follow her FreshFaith blog at www.anitabrooks.com.

More from Anita Agers Brooks

The Most Meaningful Time of the Year

Carrie squirmed in her seat as the familiar chords of It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year began. But instead of making her feel warm and cozy, the song caused her to ask herself the silent question, what if — for you, it isn't the most wonderful time?

Her youngest child tugged at her shirt sleeve and smiled up at Carrie in innocent joy. A child born over a year after the blow that plunged Carrie into an onyx hollow of depression. A child who didn't realize, that for her mother, it was the most sorrowful time of the year. For this was the season they'd lost their home and oldest daughter in the fire. The slightest stench of smoke still made Carrie anxious.

As the last echoes of melody wafted into the rafters, the minister stepped behind the podium. The crackle of tissued pages turned in his Bible magnified by the microphone. With a compassionate smile, he said, "Christmas is not a wonderful time for everyone."

Had he read Carrie's mind? She swallowed bitter bile.

The pastor continued, "But God has a gift for the broken-hearted this season. In the New Living Translation of Psalms 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows.* You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) we are reminded, 'You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.'"

Carrie's daughter wriggled, "Mommy, you're hurting my fingers."

Carrie looked down to realize she'd squeezed her four-year-old's tiny hand. She immediately rubbed the reddened skin and whispered, "Sorry, Baby."

The minister added, "Many suffer from things they'll never get over. But where well-meaning people often don't understand, God comes from a place of experience. Imagine His sorrow when He lost His only child, Jesus Christ — sacrificed for an ungrateful lot like us."

Carrie felt a waterfall wash off her chin.

"Because He truly knows how we feel, God is able to console us in our painful places. And in 2 Corinthians 1:4, He urges us to follow His example when we're told, 'He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.'"

Through tear-blurred eyes, Carrie looked at the row of seats across from her. She'd noticed Jessie earlier, but had avoided the wounded woman wearing a veil of fresh grief. Thirty-four weeks into her pregnancy, the young mom had delivered a still-born baby boy.

When the service ended, Carrie approached Jessie. Instead of avoiding her as an excruciating reminder, she now saw the young woman as a fellow traveler. Forced to walk a valley so dark, so deep, so despairing, it seemed it would never end. Challenged to endure Christmas while others celebrated.

Recently, Carrie realized God was guiding her back into moments of light. She even caught herself smiling, and basked in the wonder of such simple pleasure.

As Carrie stood in front of Jessie, she offered a humble but powerful gift. Experiential empathy.

The two women shared an aversion to painful reminders spurred by the Christmas season. But they could also accept the presence of a deeper appreciation for their Savior, who cared enough to track their sorrows, collect their tears in a bottle, and record them in His book — knowing each would transform into gifts of compassion they could offer others.

In that moment, Carrie realized Christ in Christmas meant offering her compassionate presence, hope for the hurting. Where others saw the most wonderful time, Carrie now saw the most meaningful, but she would give her gift all year long.

In the Ring

Sometimes life just kicks us in the gut. Sometimes we deserve it, sometimes we don't, but regardless, it still hurts.

Lately, the air around me surges thick with spiritual warfare. I get through one thing, and then BAM, something else hits. One moment I seem down for the count, but then Jesus whispers in my ear, "Get up, don't quit, come on Rocky, give 'em the ole one-two."

Okay, well maybe He doesn't say it exactly like that. What He does say is, "Be strong and of good courage. Don't give up, I'm in your corner, get back up and brush yourself off because I've trained you to be a winner, not a loser."

It isn't easy to roll onto my skinned knees, crawl to a stand on weak and wobbly legs, and hold my bruised and bloodied fists in varying modes of defense and offense as the enemy and I square off yet again. Every day the bell rings, and we come out fighting.

With determination, I swing until it's time to go to my corner. I get brief opportunities to catch my breath, swish my mouth, and let my Trainer blanket the cuts with binding salve. Once I’m revived, He sends me into the ring with renewed energy, and a go get 'em pep talk. I fight again. It’s been this way from the start.

When I first accepted God's call, I said, "Lord, put me on the front line, and I'll battle for you." I was so enthusiastic, and I meant every word. I still do.

A lot has happened since then. My faith has been tested through trial, tribulation, wilderness temptations, and persecution. If Satan can’t get a direct hit, he punches me in the kidney or blindsides me from behind. How does he do it? He hits family and friends, anyone I care deeply for. He’s a wily opponent and knows exactly where my weak spots are.

His strategy is simple; study my life to pinpoint the most effective attacks in advance. With stealth, tactical decisions, and methodical plans, he pushes me into corners. Gloves up, I bare the blows and cry out in pain. But his plan has a fatal flaw. He miscalculates the power of faith in Jesus Christ.

In weakened desperation I rasp, “Lord, how will you get me through this one?” His strong, steady voice reminds me, “I’ve never left you. I am here, and I won’t leave you. You cannot lose, because I cannot lose. The battle belongs to me.”

Like Nehemiah 8:10 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God." For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) I say, "The joy of the Lord is my strength,” and I push myself off the ropes.

WHAM, another blow to my cheek. SPLAT, our fists clash in sword-like combat. WHOOSH, my uppercut connects with his mid-section. Blood splatters cover the floor. On and on we go, round after round. I am tired, but I am not sorry for this battle. I am honored, I am humble, and I am victorious; not because of anything I do, for the war surely belongs to my Lord.

Sometimes life hurts. I will praise Him, even when it does. I will not give up. His joy is my strength. This is life in the ring, I live to fight every day.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. 1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (NASB)