HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2008 / MARCH/APRIL / LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

MARCH / APRIL 2008
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Living by the SPIRIT

My life was resurrected!
Grace Carlson

 

As a new Christ-follower, Easter has become my favorite holiday. Easter is the day on which we celebrate the risen Savior; it is a beautiful conclusion to the redemption story. Because Jesus died, I could die to my flesh. And because He was raised, I could be made spiritually alive. Forgiveness, grace, and mercy are present at the cross, but it is at the empty tomb where victory over death is sealed. Hallelujah!

If this were all there is to the resurrection experience, it would certainly be more than enough. But there is a mystery to the fullness of this miracle that continues to overwhelm me. This same tremendous resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead and brought me from death to life has also been a continuing source of quiet healing for my soul. Not only does God resurrect the physically and spiritually dead, but He also resurrects the emotionally dead.

I spent a majority of my life trying to cover up my "dry bones". I camouflaged my emptiness and shame with a hyper-vigilant approach to life and spirituality. In order to feel alive, I began to focus on my good accomplishments, all the while displaying an artificial cheery disposition. But in spite of my efforts, my failures continued to outnumber my successes. And with each disappointment, the persistent painful ache in my soul intensified. Consistently overcome with discouragement, I often found myself wondering, "When does it end? When do I get to let my guard down? When can I stop pretending everything is alright?" As the years progressed, my heart began to go numb, and somewhere along the way, the pain stopped.

But God being a God of truth, "resurrected" me out of denial and right into reality. He began to bring situations into my life that exposed the deep emotions that I had so carefully sealed off. The stones that once guarded my heart began to roll back. And as I let go of the need to manage myself, I began to realize that my true identity is only found in Him. Regardless of what I do or how I feel, I am forever His daughter. I know He holds me securely in His hands, and every part of me is safe in His Presence, including my deepest pain. God's healing touch has brought new life to my heart.

My spirit has been awakened in every way possible through His love and compassion. And by His resurrection power, He continues to transform me into the person He desires me to be. I was a walking dead woman, and He brought me to life. Once dead, now I live. I am a resurrected miracle! I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20, NIV). †

 

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Grace Carlson is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Both she and her husband Nathan practice dentistry in Yucaipa, California. They have two young boys, and are currently in the process of adopting a baby girl from China. They attend Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Redlands, California.