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About Me

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Janine Claire Robinson
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Welcome to my little writing corner. I count my many blessings to be a cherished wife and an ever-learning-loving-growing mother to 3 amazing children this side of Heaven and a precious little boy in Heaven. Together as a family we pastor a precious church community called Redeeming Hope Church. I've had the privilege of loving and following Jesus Christ since my earliest memories as a child. No matter what I've gone through in life, He has always been so present. At heart, I'm an encourager ... so this is a place where I get to wear my heart on my sleeve and share my journey of learning to live a life of love in action.

When pain is evoked ... and love moves beyond feelings

These last few weeks I have been so aware of how none of us are exempt from facing pain. We all face it in different ways. Some deal with it through physical pain in their bodies .... some face it through disappointment ... others are confronted with it through betrayal ... while others meet it through loss. There are so many different avenues that can evoke our pain. 
Jesus Himself faced these feelings. There is nothing that we face that He cannot identify with. He is truth and wants to give us His perspective of truth so that we can move from being trapped in our pain into the freedom that His love offers. Hebrews 4:14-16 beautifully says "Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help."
Accepting His truth above our feelings is where love is able to begin to work! His love will always lead to healing and freedom. So often it is us choosing to hold onto our feelings that keeps us trapped in our pain. I am speaking from my own personal experience. It is when we begin to trust Him with our limited perspectives and hurt feelings and in their place open up our hearts to His truth, that we begin to see the path through our pain. 
I read such an amazing post by a precious woman named Lysa TerKeurst this afternoon which spoke straight to my heart. I felt that it linked into this thought. It is so worth the read! She shares how our assumptions are not always the truth. What we 'feel' may feel like our reality ... but the truth Jesus leads us to brings clarity through the pain. 
May you be encouraged to take all your pain to Jesus. He is the one who so tenderly wipes every tear from our faces (Isaiah 25:8) and gives us beauty for ashes. He doesn't want to see us locked in pain. His truth ... not our feelings is what sets us free! "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free". (John 8:32) 
I would love to trust with you if you have any prayer needs. Know that this post is not written out of a place of my own strength, it is me handing over my pain to my precious Jesus. He is able to heal!
Love Janine xxx

Comments

You my sweet Janine, are a gift to this heart of mine this Monday afternoon. Thank you for writing...I so hope you keep visiting me so we can chat.
Much love,
Amy
Anonymous said…
Precious Jan, I love you so much! Thank you for sharing your heart, it is so encouraging to me to know that I am not the only one who has battles, and is not perfect (shock horror). Thankfully I have come to realise that precious Jesus is not looking for the perfect, but the imperfect so that He can do all the work for us, and wrap us in His arms. It is awesome to know that He loves us, and wants to take our pain and give us peace in return. You are a treasure to me!
I love you,
Niqs xx
Amy - I love your blog and will definitely keep popping in.
Quetsie - I love you more than I could ever say and am so grateful that God chose you to be my big sis xoxoxo
Hi sweet Jan!

Thank you for this post as it comes as confirmation and a Word in season. In our homegroup this morning, we discussed this very subject! So, a thousand times, thank you!!

All My Love,
Nisha
Thank you Nisha for your encouragement. I think we would all be surprised at how graciously God is dealing with so many of us all in the same boat in different ways. Thank goodness that in His love we have one another to cheer each other on as we find our wings to fly again! Love you.
Janine
Annie said…
Oh Janine, you just have a way if speaking right to my heart! I honestly don't have the time this morning to comment on all 3 of your newer posts but I would like to! This post really helped me this morning and the post about our reflection helps me always! As a woman approaching 50 in 3 years who as her share of emotional scars, I am accutely aware of my reflection and needed to read your words! I LOVE the dice idea! I might have to try that one!! Once again, I come here in respnse to your comment on my blog and what I need to do is just a daily check in because you always lift me up! Thank you!!!!!

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