Get Well
Download MP3Welcome to a place of peace, hope, and divine encouragement. This is Joy in Every Step with your host, beloved preacher, retired teacher, and faithful faithful servant of the Lord, Sarita Bernadette. Each week, Sarita shares heartfelt messages rooted in the Word of God, filled with wisdom, joy, and the gentle reminder that God cares deeply for you. Whether you're walking through the valleys or dancing on the mountaintops, Sarita's voice will guide you back to his promises step by step. So open your heart, settle your spirit, and take the next step in faith with Joy in Every Step.
Sarita Bernadette:Hi, I'm Sarita Bernadette and welcome back to another episode of Joy in Every Step. I'm glad you're here. In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet cried out to the Lord in the midst of his intense emotional pain. You may have read about his experience. In verse 14, this is Jeremiah seventeen and fourteen, he said, O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed.
Sarita Bernadette:If you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone. Again, that's Jeremiah seventeen fourteen. Beloved, emotional healing is a part of the promise. It's a part of God's promise.
Sarita Bernadette:He wants us all to be whole. He wants us whole physically, he wants us whole emotionally, and he wants us whole spiritually. The word of God bears witness and there are some accounts of people from the word of God who were healed emotionally and I would like for us to take a look at some of those accounts today and see how we can apply the lessons learned to our own lives. Let's look
Introduction:at
Sarita Bernadette:Peter. Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was one of the 12 apostles who walked with Jesus during his three years of ministry here on earth. Peter was a Galilean fisherman by trade, but he set that profession aside to follow Jesus. He's known for several things. Mostly, he's known for his fortitude, right?
Sarita Bernadette:We know Peter was bold. He's known for confessing Jesus as the Messiah. He's also known for denying knowing Jesus three times, and then later he's known for being martyred at the hands of the Roman authorities. So here's the part of his story that I want to lift up today. After Jesus was arrested, Peter denied knowing him three times.
Sarita Bernadette:This fulfilled the prophecy Jesus made in the twenty sixth chapter of Matthew. Jesus was with the apostles, and you'll remember it's it's the last supper in the upper room. And Jesus tells the group that they will fall away as he is arrested, pried, and then crucified. Peter speaks up and says he'll never do that even if the others do. In Matthew 26 verse 34 we read, Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, this very night before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.
Sarita Bernadette:Peter's denials took place in the courtyard of the high priest and they stemmed from his fear of persecution. First, a servant girl accused Peter of being with Jesus and he said he didn't know who she was talking about. Then another recognized him and Peter said, I do not know the man. Finally, some bystanders accused him based on his Galilean accent and Peter responded by cursing and swearing that he did not know the man. That last denial was followed immediately by the rooster crowing.
Sarita Bernadette:When he heard the rooster crow, Peter was so overcome with regret that he broke down in tears because he remembered the words of Jesus in that upper room. Now, beloved, I shared those details because many of us have been involved in situations that we, quite frankly, regret. The emotional pain brought on by our actions and or the actions of others can have a significant impact on our ability to function, to connect, and to thrive in daily life. Peter could have given up completely after the way he behaved on that critical night, but you'll read that he didn't. On that Sunday morning when the women told him the tomb was empty and that Christ had risen, Peter ran with John to the tomb.
Sarita Bernadette:You can read about that on your own. Imagine that. After all that had taken place, he didn't run away. He didn't allow the pain of his regret to hold him back. He ran to the tomb to see for himself.
Sarita Bernadette:Peter's bold personality was working in his favor in that moment. He ran right into the situation, ran toward the source of his healing. He didn't go into hiding. Peter was right there when Jesus appeared to the seven disciples later that day. They went out fishing and they caught nothing.
Sarita Bernadette:You might know the story. They caught nothing. Just after daybreak they heard a voice calling out from the shore. This is in John chapter 21 verses five through eight. Jesus said to them, Children, you have no fish, have you?
Sarita Bernadette:They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net to the right side of the boat and you will find some. So they cast it and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.
Sarita Bernadette:But the other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a 100 yards off. Beloved, they had toiled all night long casting that net and dragging it in and casting the net and dragging it in empty, nothing. You know they were tired. Yet Peter, forgetting all of the chaos of the previous night, I'm talking about the arrest, the trial, and the ultimate crucifixion of Jesus. He forgot all about that.
Sarita Bernadette:He put the fact that he had denied Jesus three times, he put that behind him, put that fact behind him. He threw off any guilt and any shame. He lost sight of the fact that they had come up empty handed after fishing all night. Peter jumped into the water with his clothes on and swam that 100 yards toward Jesus. Emotionally and physically exhausted, weighted down with his outer garment, he swam to the Savior.
Sarita Bernadette:I've shared this story from the same chapter of John. A few verses down we read about the rest of of this appearance by Jesus to his disciples, And you've heard me call it the fish fry on the beach. During the appearance, there's a conversation that takes place between Peter and Jesus that involves forgiveness and healing, emotional healing. John 21 verses 15 through 17. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?
Sarita Bernadette:He said to him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. A second time he said to him, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord.
Sarita Bernadette:You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Tend my sheep. Verse 17. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, Do you love me?
Sarita Bernadette:And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. A few things to note here. First, Jesus asked the question three times, do you love me?
Sarita Bernadette:Remember Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. Jesus was making sure that Peter was willing to keep that commandment as an example for the rest of us. Peter was a leader and Jesus was holding him to a high standard. Then you'll notice Jesus calls him Simon, son of John when he's addressing him. Why?
Sarita Bernadette:I believe this is a part of the healing, the emotional healing and restoration of Peter. He calls him by his original name. It's like, remember who you are. It's a way of personally relating to who Peter was when Jesus first called him. Lastly, I want to point out the fact that Jesus told Peter to feed the sheep.
Sarita Bernadette:In other words, be a leader, Peter. Care for my people. Spread the gospel. Share the good news with those who need to hear it. I can only imagine the emotional healing that took place on that beach that day in the presence of the master.
Sarita Bernadette:And I know, I know, there's three times. It's three times. He asked him that question, Do you love me? Three times, one time, for each of the denials. God is amazing.
Sarita Bernadette:He wastes nothing. There's another story in the New Testament where Jesus encounters a woman who asks him to heal her daughter. It's in the fifteenth chapter of Matthew, Matthew 15 verses 21 through 28. Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, Have mercy on me, Lord!
Sarita Bernadette:Son of David, my daughter is tormented by a demon. But he did not answer her at all, and his disciples came and urged him saying, Send her away for she keeps shouting after us. Verse 24, He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' But she came and knelt before him saying, 'Lord, help me.' He answered, It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs. Verse 27, She said, Yes Lord, yet even the dogs eat crumbs that fall from the master's table. Then Jesus answered her, Woman, great is your faith.
Sarita Bernadette:Let it be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed from that moment. This story has always fascinated me, beloved. I'm always struck by the tenacity of that woman and the language that Jesus used. One would think she would have moved on after being compared to a household pet, but she persisted.
Sarita Bernadette:The conversation was meant to make the priorities of Jesus's earthly ministry clear. You see, Jesus was the promised Messiah for the Jews. As a Jew, his ministry focused on the people God had already revealed himself to and promised a Redeemer. You see, the Jewish people had knowledge of the law and the prophets, so they were prepared to receive the message of the gospel first. This woman heard what the Lord said, and she responded in a way that let Jesus know she believed her daughter had a right to be healed and set free from torment, even though they were not Jews.
Sarita Bernadette:Now, I'm not saying, I want to be clear here, I'm not saying that all of our emotional issues stem from demons. Perhaps some do. I am saying that we are children of God, and we have a right to follow the word of the Lord and believe that we can be healed and set free. Pursue emotional healing, beloved. Attend to your mental health and well-being.
Sarita Bernadette:Many of us are battling to maintain a level of peace in a chaotic atmosphere. Believe that it is the will of God that his children live physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy lives. Get well. Get well. A couple of weeks ago I caught the performance of a group of young girls from the Legend's House founded by Shana Yvonne Rudd.
Sarita Bernadette:The website states the house was born from Ms. Shana's deep belief that when girls are allowed to heal out loud, they rise differently. It also describes the organization as a transformative ecosystem where girls are not only trained as dancers and performers, but supported as whole human beings. The program utilizes dance therapy to help youth navigate mental health struggles, trauma, and self worth. The day I saw them, they were wearing t shirts that read, Healing is legendary.
Sarita Bernadette:I want one of those t shirts. Healing is legendary, legendary, admirable. Healing is worthy of being passed down through generations. I love the thought of that. Instead of passing down trauma, we pass down healing.
Sarita Bernadette:I've also seen this group wearing shirts that read, The cycles are ending. Oh bless God. These girls have leaned into their emotional healing. They believe this type of healing is not only possible, it's necessary. I believe there are times when God opens the door to emotional healing and he leaves it up to us to walk through the door.
Sarita Bernadette:We have to be willing to take the steps. However painful, we have to do the work. If we refuse to take the steps to heal, that's on us. God provides ways for us to get well. It may come as we pray or as we're studying his word.
Sarita Bernadette:It may come in the form of a support group or even a seasoned knowledgeable therapist. Healing is the children's bread. Get well soon. You've been listening to Joy in Every Step. I'm Sarita Bernadette and I'm grateful you chose to spend some time here with me.
Sarita Bernadette:Feel free to share this episode with someone you know would appreciate it. You can find Joy in Every Step wherever you listen to your podcasts and give us a follow there. Do check out the website at joyineverystep.org. See you next time.
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