Have you ever been in the drive thru ready to pay when the worker at the window says, “Your order has been paid for”? You may know the shock and thrill that bursts through an otherwise mundane or outright horrible day.
Life can often feel like an emotional rollercoaster. When things get tough, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, angry, or fearful. In these moments, it’s crucial to pause, breathe, and find healthy ways to process these emotions before acting impulsively.
When emotions run high, some may lash out—yelling, arguing, or having emotional outbursts. For others, the response may be the opposite: freezing up, shutting down, or avoiding the situation altogether. At times, the urge to escape or numb emotional pain can lead to poor coping mechanisms, such as self-harm.
One form of self-harm people may turn to is cutting. While it may offer a temporary release from emotional pain, it doesn’t address the underlying source of suffering. Cutting can feel like a way to regain control when everything else seems out of control. But it’s essential to ask ourselves: What is behind this need to hurt myself? Is it about punishment, revenge, or the urge to hit the eject button?
For some, cutting comes from a belief that they deserve to suffer—a form of punishment for their mistakes or perceived failures. Others may turn to self-harm as a way to get back at someone they feel has wronged them. There is a dopamine surge in the brain when we see someone else “get what they deserve,” which can make the idea of revenge feel momentarily rewarding.
But here’s where the shift happens—when we look at the bigger picture, we see there’s a better way to deal with these intense feelings. And that way is through forgiveness, not vengeance. We can find peace by remembering that Jesus Christ has already borne the punishment for all our shortcomings. Let Him pay—the burden of guilt and pain does not belong to us to carry. Vengeance is His, not ours.
When we feel the weight of our mistakes, it's easy to fall into a cycle of self-punishment, thinking we’re not worthy of love or forgiveness. But here's the truth: we don’t have to punish ourselves. Jesus has already paid that price. His love is unconditional, and His grace is not something we earn, it’s freely given, even when we don’t deserve it.
By allowing God to bear our burdens, we can stop carrying the weight of past mistakes and move forward in grace. The freedom that comes from accepting God’s forgiveness is transformative, and it empowers us to forgive ourselves when we’ve fallen short. But it doesn’t end there—when we allow ourselves grace, we are then able to extend that grace to others who have wronged us. This doesn’t mean blindly ignoring the actions of others—it means that through God’s love and grace, we can find healing and release ourselves from the need for vengeance or payback.
It’s essential to take time to reflect on our emotions while we’re calm, so that when intense feelings arise, we can respond in a healthy way. It’s okay to feel anger, fear, or overwhelm, but through prayer, journaling, or talking with a trusted friend or counselor, it’s important to process and release emotions without resorting to harm.
At the end of the day, we are all human, and none of us are perfect. Remember that we are never alone in our struggles.
When intense emotions overwhelm you, ask Him to grant you the strength to truly understand the immense love He has for you. His Spirit can assuage your distress, replacing it with a deep sense of gratitude and awe, knowing that He experienced everything you’ve felt and chose to take your place.
Let Him pay.
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