RESTORATION: HOW TO BECOME WHOLE AGAIN

By Minister Raceal McWhorter

 

We live in a violent society today. Wars, death and destruction are all around us. Any one of us has a realistic chance of becoming a victim of crime, or know someone who was a victim of crime. If you are victimized and survive, how do you get over the pain, the fear, and the feelings of betrayal and violation? How do you become whole again?

 

In order to begin the healing process, one of the first things you may want to do is to acknowledge your feelings and accept them. It is natural to be numb at first, to have no feelings, flatline, or to be in denial.  It is ok to feel angry, hurt, and confused for a time.  It is not healthy to feel sorry for yourself, or hold onto negative feelings indefinitely. You may or may not need professional counseling. But if you do go to a preferably Christian counselor – don’t neglect taking what you are feeling or not feeling to the Lord in prayer. Cast your care on Him, for He cares for you.  The Lord did not make us to carry these kinds of burdens.  He made us to love and praise Him, love one another, and enjoy this life He has given us.

 

Assess where you are.  Count your blessings.  You still have your life, a mind, a body, a spirit, family, friends, a home, etc. or some part of these things.  If things are not in the best shape after a crime, they can be restored to the best possible condition if we make that our goal.  Having a goal to work on helps to keep us from reflecting on the past pain, so that we can focus on future gain. “Forgetting those things that are behind, so that I can press forward to the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phi. 3:13) Where there is no vision the people perish (Prov.29:18)

 

The hardest step in the healing process goes the furthest in restoring you to mental health.  It is hard, but eventually, you will get to the point where you must forgive the perpetrator.  You may never know what influenced the person to commit the crime, or what damage, deformity; weakness of spirit caused the perpetrator to inflect the pain, theft, or violence on another person.  I believe if they really knew what damage they were doing, if they felt it themselves. They wouldn’t do it.  This convinces me that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness.  (Ephesians 6:12) We know demons hate us and want to destroy us.  Demons can enter abused children who grow up not knowing life without their evil influence. Let us hate the demons, and their works, but hold the person innocent and love them with the love of Christ.  Thinking this way makes it easier to forgive the perpetrator.

 

Forgiveness is like a healing balm that can free us from the pain and mental anguish caused by a loss, no matter the kind of loss.  It helps you to focus less on the crime so that you can begin to concentrate on restoring your life to normal. To want to see the perpetrator helped, or to make restitution, so that they will no longer be compelled to hurt others is an empowering state of being. We then have the strength to rebuild and restore ourselves to wholeness. Jesus said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, acting like true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matt.5:44-45)

 

We must also forgive ourselves for wanting to inflict pain in kind. Revenge is one of the most destructive forces on earth. It harms the one seeking it more than the intended victim. It can keep you trapped in those negative feelings that prevent healing and growth.

 

Many diseases in the body, headaches, high blood pressure, cancer, etc. are caused and made worst by these ill feelings. Take all those feelings of blame, guilt, anger, shame, grief, depression, rage, pity, and trash them. Flush them down the toilet. Incinerate them in the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Stand up and praise God until you feel His presence inhabiting those praises. In His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore. (Psal.16:11)

 

The bottom line is we must learn to love one another, good and bad, and learn to forgive one another in order to love, honor and forgive ourselves.  Only by fighting and destroying all thoughts and feelings that do not reflect love can we begin to heal.  Ask the Lord to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. Restore the joy of your salvation and uphold you with a willing spirit. (Psalms 51:10-12).  It takes an act of our will and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to accomplish this.

 

I first wrote this article on November 8, 1994.  I was feeling empathy for those who would suffer losses during the holiday season, when robberies abound.  I had no idea it was a prophetic warning for myself, who would suffer the irreplaceable loss of my only son, Micheal Abdu Ra-Om McWhorter.  I buried him on his 21st birthday, January 18, 1995.  The day before he was murdered, the Lord told me to take this article out and really get it into my spirit.  In obedience I did. I have been uplifted and encouraged by this article and from the love and support of many people who knew my son, and me.  I miss my son, but I do not hate those involved in his death.  I am praying for them in hope that they may be healed from the oppression of the devil, the real enemy. Later that fateful morning the Lord gave me this scripture to comfort me:

 

Isaiah 57  1 The righteous perishes,  And no man takes it to heart;
      Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers
      That the righteous is taken away from evil.
       2 He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds,
      Each one walking in his uprightness.

My Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all your demonstrations of love for me.  Thank you that I am covered in the cleansing blood of Christ. Thank you that I am healed by His stripes. By an act of my will in the name of Jesus, I take all my feelings of guilt and shame, anger, unforgiveness, hardness of heart, grief, depression, vengeance, fear and pity and throw them into the sea of forgetfulness.  Fill me now with Your Precious Holy Spirit and purifying fire. Help me to stand up and praise you with all kinds of praise. Help me to grow and enjoy all the fruits of the spirit. Help me to accept Your gift of healing and wholeness.  Teach me to walk in your ways. Help me to take dominion over all the power of the enemy. Teach me love with Your love, forgive with your forgiveness, think your thoughts after you, recognize and exercise Your God faith in me to do all things for good, for Your Glory.

In Jesus name I pray.

 

Amen