Part 4

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The Door is Open - Part 4 - Embracing the Pain
One of the key issues Gen Xers have struggled with is embracing the confusing and often painful preparation process the Lord has taken us through as a generation. Usually the process of training and maturing in character happens side-by-side with release into vision/mandate.  But most Gen Xers have not experienced a release, especially into leadership in the Church.  In fact, while trying to serve faithfully in churches and ministries and build authentic relationships with the older generation, many have experienced misunderstanding, wounding and disappointment. 

But rather than pressing into the Lord for understanding, we have often swung one of two ways: we have laid the blame for our suffering squarely on the shoulders of the older generations (“If only they weren’t so vision-driven/task-oriented/controlling and would get out of the way and let someone else lead!”) or we have believed a lie that, for some reason,  God has forgotten us (“I’m too messed up, God has given up on me/passed me by”).

Both these lies have kept us wallowing in self-pity and trapped in despair because we have failed to see the bigger picture of God’s eternal purposes and sovereignty.  We know that we are wired with an almost obsessive need for the presence of God and a longing to see the headship of Jesus recognized and honoured in the Church through a sensitivity and obedience to the Holy Spirit.  And yet we haven’t understood the price that needs to be paid by a generation destined to shift the Church into experiencing a new measure of the manifested Glory of God in our midst.

Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 4 that we have this treasure (the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ) in earthen vessels so that the power may be seen to be of God and not man.  How can light be seen through a clay jar?  By breaking it. 

Knowing that He cannot share His glory with any man, in His wisdom and mercy, God has been taking Gen Xers through an intense journey of brokenness.  This has been an act of love for our protection, not our destruction.  

Understanding  and embracing, rather than resisting, the pain or suffering the Lord has allowed in our lives to shape and prepare us, is key to our release as a generation.

To hear more about God’s journey with Gen X, click here. (Note: click link to listen – a window will open in your internet browser.  To download the mp3 simply right click on the browser and select “save source as”.)  

At the end of the session, we took a time to worship and offer ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord.  Click here  to hear the worship from Friday afternoon.

Love,

Stephanie
On behalf of the Awaken Team

We desire our journey to be an expression of the corporate body and not just a few of us, so if the Lord gives you a vision or dream or speaks to you through a scripture or if you have a story or testimony you would like to share, please send it to share@awakenthedream.org.

If you would like to stay connected with Awaken the Dream and the journey, you may sign up at http://www.awakenthedream.org/connect.