Hello, reading friends!

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Can Grace Heal What Abuse Broke?

In the story I’m working on, Behold, All Things Are Become New, Tyler’s abusive father appears uninvited on his wedding day, asking to talk. The groom’s dilemma is this:

1. He can hold on to his justified anger and send his father away—preserving his grudge but keeping his heart hardened.
2. He can allow himself to believe his father has changed—risking disappointment but also opening himself to healing.

All of us have been hurt by someone. The question we face is this: Can we restore our trust?

Second Corinthians 5:17 holds out hope in difficult relationships: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Change comes to those who are in Christ. What does “in Christ” mean? These are people who yield to Christ’s control in their lives, as opposed to those who insist on maintaining control. Those who are in Christ will watch the old self transform into a new person. It may not happen all at once. It may not happen in the area others most want to see changed. But new values will take root—in the heart, the mind, and the will.

That said, not all wounds are equal.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The Bible commands us to forgive (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:21–22), but it doesn’t impose a timeline. Issues such as abuse are deeper and take longer to work through (Proverbs 18:9; Romans 12:18). God gets it. Even Jesus did not entrust himself to everyone (John 2:24–25). Peace is not always fully achievable.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are not synonymous. God doesn’t ask a person to put herself at risk by forgiving too early. We can work toward reconciliation, but only at the appropriate time.

I read the following quote in the book titled Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life, at the end of chapter 12, titled “Boundaries and Yourself”:

Such a person needs assurance that the offender has changed before reconciliation can take place. While the Bible commands us to forgive, reconciliation is neither guaranteed nor required. We cannot control another person’s choices. If he hasn’t changed and may harm us again, it is only prudent to create distance.

Perhaps wounded people should ask another question: Is change needed in my life? In my perspective?

In Tyler’s case, will he let go of his cynicism toward his father? If not, will he end up bringing his father’s mess into his own marriage?

Wait and see. I’ll let you know when the story is available.

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What I’m Working On

Fiction:

I finished a rough draft of Behold, All Things Are Become New. Now I'm reading and rereading to comb out the tangles. Sometimes I'm going over the same paragraphs over and over again, changing wording, adding in some and taking out. Pacing and flow are other considerations I look into during the drafting process. After that, I will send the story to an editor before making final changes.

Inspirational:

Joy To The World, Really! Hope in a Darkened World (A Christmas devotional)

I revised a previous devotional titled Ordinary Days and changed the title to Not So Ordinary Days. Here's a summary. The first Christmas came wrapped in routine and disruption—much like our own lives. Not So Ordinary Days helps us see how God still moves in unseen ways through both.

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What I'm Reading

​Peace Like A River by Leif Enger

The description from Amazon says. An eleven-year-old asthmatic boy, Reuben Land has reason to believe in miracles. But he will soon learn that life, even when touched by the divine, is never easy. Along with his father and poetically inclined sister, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder.
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The Land family’s journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion demonstrates how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies—and the most tragic of fates. “A rich mixture of adventure, tragedy, and healing,” Peace Like a River is “a collage of legends from sources sacred and profane—from the Old Testament to the Old West, from the Gospels to police dramas” (Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor).

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For Prayer

If you believe in prayer, please pray and give thanks for the following:

• Praise God for continued progress on our house. Pray for the worker's safety and skill as they work and that they can finish this month.
• Pray for wisdom and creativity as I work on a final draft of Behold, All Things Are Become New.
• Pray for God's guidance as I write so His message is conveyed and readers are blessed.
• Pray for additional ideas to write for the Christmas devotionals.
• Pray that I can start a book page on my website to detail upcoming projects (I've lacked time to do this).

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Recent Posts

​The Light of God—Discover how God’s light—first spoken into a dark world—still brings clarity, hope, and transformation to our lives today through the face of Christ.

​Out of the Mire—Psalm 40:1-3 reflects David’s trust in God amid struggles, illustrating themes of patience and divine support. God hears David’s pleas and rescues him from distress, providing stability and joy. This deliverance inspires others to recognize God’s glory.

​Mary Vs. The Taylor Swifts—You don't have to be famous to make an impact on the world. God chooses faithful and available people.

​Goals: Hits and Misses in 2024—Two stories that crossed the finish line and one that didn't.

​God's Love Is...

​AI Takes on My Writing and My Top 3 Movies​

​Trust Your Heavenly Father—What I Learned About Trust in PE Class

​Clay Pots—Common with Uncommon Results—God's advertising strategy might surprise you.

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Contact Me

If you have a comment, pop me a message? You can reach me at my email address for my writing projects: broks.d.h@gmail.com. That's just one "o" instead of two. I'd love to hear from you.

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​That's It for now. Thank you for a moment of your time.

David Harlen Brooks