When I first started writing my “Dear God,” letters in 2015 it was not only to communicate with God, but also to document my personal journey to deliverance and freedom. Those of you that have read my previous blogs know that I had been walking through this healing process. It first started with me acknowledging that my relationship with Christ was on life support and I needed to get my life back on track and get whole in Him. Then I realized that I had to LET GO of situations and people that could no longer go with me to the season that God was moving me into. I had to LET GO in order to receive GREATER. I hit a stumbling block along the way when I was faced with the blatant reality that I was still living in unforgiveness and I had more work to do on Diamond. I thought I had moved on, but I did some self reflecting and saw this as an opportunity for growth so I kept moving forward.
“Which is funny
because I cried
about being hurt,
I cried because
I was frustrated,
but I never thought
to cry out to God…”
– Diamond Melvin
When I first began journaling I would label my journals day by day and on Day 93 everything changed! I remember it so clearly. I was at a church service one night at my church and I asked my best friend to attend with me. During this time in my life seasonal friendships with certain friends had ended prior to and I hadn’t seen some of them since then. However, because we had mutual friends my ex (the situationship) was also at this service as well as another close friend I used to have. The speaker for that night was on fire! You know that type of speaker that seems to be all up in your life and they don’t know you from Adam or Eve? Yes it was that type of message, God definitely sent that speaker for me. Towards the end of the message the speaker was closing out by doing an altar call and praying for people within the congregation. As he began to pray I heard him say, “Someone came here to RELEASE something on tonight. It’s been a journey for you, but just open your mouth and RELEASE it”. At this moment I was a mess. I was crying and fighting this moment and keeping my mouth shut. My best friend was consoling me but she was also pushing me through prayer! Side note: Get you some friends that are going to fight with and for you spiritually! It matters! Within moments as my best friend was praying I LET GO one of the biggest screams and cries! I began to shout and praise the Lord because I knew He had brought me out. Then on top of God being who He is, He also had my enemies watch! I knew what the Lord had done for me in that moment and I was delivered! Once service ended I was able to talk to those same people that it took so long to forgive and it wasn’t awkward at all. I was so happy and genuinely wishing everyone well.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary deliverance means, “the act of delivering someone or something : the state of being delivered especially : LIBERATION, RESCUE.” Rescue is HUGE! I’m so glad that I serve a God that when I cry for help, He listens and comes to rescue me (Psalms 34:17). Within this process of healing I had realized that I had been doing an array of things to achieve my freedom and to reach a place of forgiveness. But, when I began to think about my process I realized that I had not cried out to God until that night in church. Which is funny because I cried about being hurt, I cried because I was frustrated, but I never thought to cry out to God; The one who can turn my sorrows into joy, restore my strength, and ultimately change my situation in an instance. When I decided to cry out to God, that was the very moment that He rescued me. If you are on a journey of deliverance calling out to God is a MUST. Crying out to God is an act of desperation and requires total concentration. It is a fervent act on your behalf that shows that you are putting complete trust in God because you know that He is the only One who can bring you out. Crying out to God shows your humility, that you have faith in His power and resources, and that you are surrendering without any conditions. And guess what? He loves it!
Some Important Lessons I Learned After Being Delivered
- Seeing Things from the Other Person’s Perspective- When we are going through hurt, naturally we are only concerned about self. Because we are blinded by the hurt the other person has caused us, we are stuck in unforgiveness. Therefore, we are unable to empathize with the person. “Hurt people, hurt people.” That statement is real, ok! When you have not dealt with unforgiveness or healed from certain experiences it is just baggage, you are going to take it wherever you go. (Ephesians 4:32)
- Forgiveness will be Tested- Do not be governed by your emotions. Within my last blog post, “Dear God, I Thought I Moved On.” I mentioned how God will allow tests to arise throughout your healing process. Keep in mind that just because you are on the journey towards forgiveness, that doesn’t mean that everyone that was in your circle previously is on that same journey. Some people will do things just to get a reaction out of you. Keep your self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)
- Praying for Those Who Hurt You- Why is this important? Because let’s be honest, the last thing that you want to do is pray for someone that hurt you. That’s totally understandable, share that with God. He already knows your thoughts anyway! However, Christ commands it. Why? Because Christ still loves those that have even hurt you. He wants what’s best for them also. To see them renewed, redeemed and restored. Your prayers may very well help them get there! (Matthew 5:44)
Ultimately working through this journey to deliverance you will realize being able to forgive is grace in action. We were blessed with God’s grace when He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Meaning that because of Christ’s sacrifice God no longer holds our sins against us. There is no more condemnation. Grace instructs us to be compassionate and kind with one another as God does for us. This is how we should live our everyday lives. With being able to forgive and reach my deliverance it allowed room for hearts to be mended and for me to be able to come into the presence of my enemies with a whole new perspective on how to interact with them. It allows me to be able to pray intentional prayers for them and MEAN IT. Walking in healing is a beautiful thing. I didn’t realize that when I was stuck in the drama, but when I cried out to God, He saw how desperate I was for freedom and how hard I had been working to reach it. In due time you WILL get your deliverance!
Love Your Sis,
"Dear God," Blog 