I'm angry at you...
...or rather the lies you've been tricked to believe in.
I’ve been sitting with something for a while now, and I just need to say it. I’m angry. Not at you, exactly.
I’m angry at the lies you’ve believed about yourself.
I’m angry at the world for telling us things that aren’t true.
I’m angry at how easily we’ve all accepted diagnoses, judgments, and labels that contradict what God has already said about who we are.
I was talking with a friend recently, and I watched something happen that broke my heart. She walked into a therapist’s office struggling with some anxiety. By the end of this intake session, the therapist essentially told her she had a personality disorder (among other problems). She came in looking for help and left feeling like something was fundamentally wrong with her.
Here’s what happened next, though. The next day, she went to her General Practitioner and told her about her therapist visit. And you know what this doctor said? “You don’t have that. There’s nothing wrong with you. You need to start trusting God again.”
Isn’t this interesting? One professional tries to convince her she’s broken, and another one whispers, “You’re beloved. Trust Him.”
(Now don’t get me wrong… I know there is value in receiving accurate diagnosis of different challenges, especially in the mental health space, but please go to God and also to others for 2nd opinions)
When God found Adam and Eve in the garden after they ate the fruit, He didn’t say, “You should feel ashamed of yourself. What’s wrong with you?!” Instead, He asked them something brilliant: “Who told you that you were naked?”
Who told you that? Who told you that you have a personality disorder? Who told you that you’re fundamentally broken in your relationships? Who told you that you can’t connect with people? Who told you that there’s something wrong with you? Because I’ll tell you something true: God didn’t tell you any of that.
Now another reason why I am angry is because I spend most of my day, everyday, thinking about how I can help people hear God. I think I could rightly say I’m one of the leading experts in the world on this topic…
So when I have members in my community who aren’t hearing from God, and they don’t reach out to me… I’m thinking, “What’s going on? Who told you to not reach out to me?”
Now granted, I know that the Lord could very well prompt you to not talk to me, but if you are in my community or if you are reading this email and you struggle to hear from God… please reach out. Reply to this email!
And notice if there is any resistance to doing so. Why not reach out? Is it because of the lie that you grew up with that you shouldn’t bother people? Is it because of the lie the world told you that you should be able to figure things out on your own?
Whatever prevents you from connecting with others and asking for help… that is what I invite you to talk to God about. Because He designed us to help one another. He even designed for our sins to be paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Consider this scripture… “For the joy set before him he endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus loved us so much that He chose to suffer. He enjoys taking our pains and burdens because He already paid the price.
In a similar way, I like to hear about people’s challenges with connecting to God. I like it when you guys come to me and share about your challenges (I don’t like that you are experiencing them, but my purpose is fulfilled in your struggle). We complete each other.
With all this being said, I don’t want you to reach out to me simply because you feel pressured to. As with all things, notice what comes up for you from this email. What feelings arise? Do you feel guilty? Do you feel shame? Do you feel conviction? Do you feel excitement?
What thoughts have arisen from this? And what does God think? Because whatever God thinks is what we are to practice holding onto. And when you actually receive what He has to say about who you are, something shifts. Beliefs change. Shame loses its grip. The lie you’ve been carrying becomes so obviously not true that you can finally set it down.
Now here’s what I want to invite you to do.
Notice the lies you’ve been believing (not to shame yourself further, but to get really clear about what’s not true).
Notice who told you those things (what experiences or people taught you this belief).
And then... ask God. Ask Him “Lord, what do you say?” And then actually wait for His answer.
You are not what others have told you. You are what He says. And He says you are beloved.
with love,
Tyson
P.S. If you’re ready to go deeper into hearing God’s voice for yourself, I’d love for you to join us for the 5-Day Hearing God Challenge. It’s five days of learning how to recognize, receive, and act on what God is actually saying to you. This is also the perfect place to come and ask me questions and receive coaching.