Summary

The author describes their journey of overcoming emotional pain through faith, using the teachings of Kenneth E. Hagin's book, "Love the Way to Victory," and the Bible, particularly 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 and 1 John 4:19, to find healing and strength by walking in love and forgiveness.

Abstract

The author shares a deeply personal account of how their faith was tested during the pandemic, leading to feelings of betrayal and a crisis of faith. In their search for healing, they turned to the book "Love the Way to Victory" by Kenneth E. Hagin, which emphasizes the importance of love as a path to emotional and mental victory. Initially, the concept of walking in love while feeling wronged seemed counterintuitive, but as they engaged with the text, they realized the personal benefits of forgiveness and love. The process of embracing these principles led to a transformation characterized by a newfound sense of peace and the ability to let go of offenses. The author draws a parallel between their experience and the steadfastness of a tree with deep roots, symbolizing the strength derived from being firmly planted in God's word. Despite occasional doubts and negative emotions, they consistently return to the Bible's teachings on love and forgiveness, which serve as a solid foundation for a flourishing life.

Opinions

The author initially struggled with the idea of forgiving those who hurt them, feeling it would absolve the offenders of understanding the pain they caused.
Through reading Hagin's book and reflecting on biblical scripture, the author came to understand that walking in love is primarily beneficial for one's own emotional and mental well-being.
The author experienced a significant emotional recovery within a month of applying the principles of love and forgiveness from the book and the Bible.
The author identifies 1 John 4:19 as a key anchor scripture, guiding them to love as God loves, which helped them navigate through their pain and anger.
The author equates their spiritual growth to a tree with deep roots, constantly nourished by God's word, which allows them to remain stable and fruitful regardless of external circumstances.
They acknowledge that while they are not perfect in their practice of forgiveness and love, they have made considerable progress from where they started.
The author emphasizes that living according to God's word is not only His will but also leads to an abundant life filled with good things.
The author believes that

Firmly Planted, Forever Unshaken

A person grounded in His Word is solidly anchored in the turbulent sea that is life

Photo by Dominic M Contreras from Pexels

The pandemic shook me in a rather personal way last year. My trust was betrayed, and my faith in this God was shaken, so much so that days went by when I’d sit and cry, my heart and mind filled with anger, hurt, and bitterness.

I have this book, Love the Way to Victory, by Kenneth E. Hagin.

I had it back then too, and it was scheduled reading for a book club I am in, but I didn’t read it. In the midst of that pain and anguish, I picked up the book and started to read.

And Hagin basically dissembled 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 from the first page to the last and told me that walking in love was the way to emotional and mental victory. To be healed of my pain, I needed to love.

That made so much sense and no sense whatsoever. I was the one who was hurt! I was the offended one! I was wronged! Why do I need to be the one walking in love?

If I forgive and forget, they will never realize how much they hurt me, and I wanted them to understand the pain they caused me! But the Bible says love forgives, that it doesn’t bear anyone ill, and if I say I am love, I need to walk it.

Hagin kept saying that walking in love was largely for my benefit, and I read long enough for that to start sinking in. I needed to stop feeling what I was feeling, and all the talking in the world wasn’t going to fix that.

So I started doing what the book said: I started walking in love.

It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I thought it would take months for me to genuinely smile again, but it didn’t.

Within a month, I was almost myself again, and better even. Now I’m in that place where I can talk myself out of the offense. I know when I’m annoyed and tell myself it isn’t worth it.

I am so chill. Sometimes I think something is wrong with me. But it feels right, so I know I am fine. My anchor scripture is 1 John 4:19, NIV, which says, “We love because he first loved us.”

I love because He loves me. It reminds me of the WWJD movement years back: what would Jesus do here, now? Because He loves me, I will love. I held on to that with every part of me because I knew that letting go was dooming myself.

I chose to believe the words the Bible speaks about forgiveness and love and practice them daily. Am I an expert? No, but I am far from where I was heading, and I’m on more solid ground now.

“They will be like trees growing beside a stream — trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain.” (Jeremiah 17:8 CEV).

Be so rooted in God’s Word that your thoughts and words are filled with that word. Be firmly planted that whenever any situation arises, your first response is His word. That is the one thing that is sure in this world, the one thing that we can count on.

Yes, I have my moments. There are times I doubt. I get mad; I speak negative things. I repent, forgive myself, and move on, ’cause staying angry with yourself is just as harmful as refusing to forgive another.

One grounded in God’s word is like a tree with roots reaching deep into a stream. Regardless of the time of year or the circumstances around you, you are always flourishing, always cheerful, always abundant in all good things.

That’s His will for us. Why not live it?

Life is easy when we follow His blueprint. Sure, the world will do everything to thwart you, but all you need do is stay focused on Him: He is the only sure thing in this world, and He is in, with, by, and for YOU.

What a wonderful God we serve.

Encouraging, empowering, and entertaining. In Christ.