An analogy from my first draft of the Redeeming Our Treasures workbook. I wrote so much that I had to cut some of the things I loved from the book.
I offer one of them now to you.
Maybe you bought this Redeeming our Treasures Companion Workbook because you are tired of being bogged down in the muck and mire of unresolved pain from the past, you are sick of putting on a pleasant face and pretending that all is well when you are falling apart inside. If that is so, you are on the right path. When you are so sick of being sick that you are willing to pay any price in order to be healthy, you will get healthy. You will do the hard work of recovery. Like a diver who has plunged into the shadowy waters of the deep, searching for treasures long hidden in the sand, you are gearing up for an expedition. A journey of discovery and wonder.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying this is a recreational trip. We are about to embark on a treasure hunt, to be sure, but like the deep sea diver, our descent will not be easy. We will feel the pressure and sometimes we may feel threatened by our discoveries. That is why we must not go there alone. Every diver has a partner, at least every responsible diver. And so it is with you. You can work through this book with a counselor, a pastor, or a friend. Call me “old fashioned,” but I believe it is best if you go through this study with someone of the same gender. Your descent into the pain of the past is likely to trigger a need for comfort. It may make you feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance. Those kind of needs are best met by our husband if we are married or by friends of the same sex if we are not. I know that some of my readers are not ready to share their hurts and abuse issues with their husband. That is okay. What happened to you is yours to share if and when you are ready to do so. It is wise to entrust less sensitive information to the person you want to trust at first, and if they are able to handle that information well, then move on to something deeper and more sensitive. Are you ready to move forward? Then turn to Chapter One and let’s get started.
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