You know when you’re excited about a new season? Maybe you’ve had an encouraging word about what’s around the corner and you’re brimming with hope and you take a big ‘ole step into the unknown. But instead of sunshine and rainbows, the season is not at all what you expected. In fact, the season turns out to be the harshest, most brutal spiritual winter that nearly obliterates your zest for life and faith. Being brave is the last thing you want to do.
I had the privilege of meeting Lori Clifton through a conference. We continued our friendship online and I’m so grateful for her. Lori has graciously mentored me through my challenges with the church and abusive leaders. She came alongside me with her own experiences of suffering and brought comfort and hope to my pain. I’m so pleased to introduce you to her and share her story of bravery. My hope is you find courage through her journey.
Lori was entering a new season. After coming out of painful years with no community and cancer visiting her family, she was excited when the Lord told her “the weight from the previous season is coming off.” For her, she knew it meant the heaviness she endured from her challenging trials, but it also meant physical weight. Things were definitely looking up!
But as she stepped into the season, doing what she knew to do, she was surprised at the adversity, especially among other believers. She was attending a prayer meeting when she felt compelled to pray over the younger generation. As a representative of an “older” generation, she felt moved by the Holy Spirit to seek to repair any damage that had adversely affected the young. Hearts were stirred, tears fell, and restoration was on the horizon.
Unfortunately, a woman at the meeting took offense. This offense went up the chain and it was very clear that Lori was no longer welcome in their community.
Let’s pause on that for a moment because I want this story to bring healing and hope to you. If you have done something that you absolutely felt compelled by the Lord to do, and it resulted in judgment or shame from the church, I want to press into that. Being brave sometimes means we step out into the unknown and risk something that we normally wouldn’t attempt. For Lori, that was extending an open hand across generations and asking for forgiveness. Bridging the gap and seeking restoration absolutely aligns with the heart of God. However, sometimes people can view our actions through tainted lenses and misjudge our motives. If you have experienced that, I pray that you will be able to forgive those who took offense with you. It’s not about you. It’s about them. Vertically lift your concerns to the Lord and receive healing. And then horizontally forgive those who caused you pain. Your job is not to try and convince others of your motives. Your job is to remove the weight from the previous season and not carry it into the next season.
“Being brave sometimes means we step out into the unknown and risk something that we normally wouldn’t attempt.”
Months later, Lori suffered another encounter with a group of people who also judged her harshly. This setback caused devastating pain to her already wounded soul. The kind of pain that makes a person question if it’s time to call it quits; to throw in the towel on this thing called faith. If it brings so much pain, then what’s the point in trying?
Lori cried out the Lord as she stood on the edge of the cliff of faith. Could she take another leap of faith and survive?
To Be Continued…