Forgiven and Set Free Episode 9 - Acceptance

Welcome back, ladies. We are really glad you have continued this journey with us. Absolutely. And if you're joining us for the first time, please go back to episode one and start there. Each episode builds on the one before, and we want you to walk this entire journey in order to get the most out of it. So start there. Yep, start at the beginning. Okay, we have covered a lot. Man, we've talked about our pain, God's character, survival, anger, depression, forgiveness, freedom, and honoring our child. And today we come to the final chapter, acceptance. All right, before we begin, I want to be clear about what acceptance is and what it's not. Okay, so acceptance doesn't mean approval of what happened. It doesn't mean forgetting your child. And it does not mean the pain never mattered. Make sure you understand that. Now, here's what acceptance means. I can live forward without being trapped in shame. I can remember without being crushed. Second Corinthians one, verse three and four, reminds us that God comfort us in our trouble. Not to erase it, but to redeem it. Look, you know what I'm going to say here. At any point that's felt too heavy, don't hesitate to push the pause button and return later. ♪♪

Let's pray. Oh, gracious Heavenly Father, we enter into your presence with thanksgiving. Your Word tells us you have set us free and you've given us a new life. Would you meet us in this final chapter and help us receive the peace that you offer? We thank you, Lord God, in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. ♪♪ Acceptance is not pretending that the past didn't happen. Acceptance is telling the truth and allowing God to meet us there. Romans 8, verse 1 says, I'm going to say that one again. Acceptance means that condemnation no longer gets the final word. Shame no longer defines identity. Yes and amen. ♪♪ Look, some women fear that acceptance means losing connection of their child. Look, Scripture tells us something completely different and we can celebrate this, y'all. Isaiah 43, verse 18 and 19 says, See, I am doing a new thing. Look, he's doing a new thing in all of us. This is not about forgetting love. It's about not being imprisoned by pain. God redeems memory.

He does not erase it. ♪♪ I want y'all to hear from Phyllis one final time as she talked about peace, not because her child mattered less, but because God's grace mattered more. After we did our memorial service for our children, we got to, you know, celebrate them and, you know, we got to just read letters to them and just think about them and I got, you know, a certification of life for them and I'm just so excited that, like, you know, they are spoke about. I get to talk about them all the time. Every time, you know, before I never talked about it at all. I was real hush about it, but now I'm like, hey, they tell me, how many kids you got? I'm like, I got three. I got Joseph, Josiah, Josephine. They all got the Joe in the beginning. So I'm just really excited to, like, talk about them. them, acknowledge them, and I just really look forward to just being with them again and seeing their beautiful little faces. And I find so much comfort in knowing that they're with Jesus, you know, and that they're just having a good time, that they're well taken care of. We're going to take a few moments now for a memorial time. This is a way to honor your child, not in shame, but in love. If you named your child, you may want to speak their name quietly in your heart. If you didn't, God knows them fully. You may want to hold your child's written name. You may want to hold the letter that you wrote them, or you may simply want to hold your hands open. In this moment, we remember that our children We remember that our children lived, that they matter, and that they are known by God.

You may want to say quietly, I release you into God's tender care. You are loved. You are remembered. You are remembered. This is not goodbye forever. This is interesting. Look, Scripture promises us that grief does not have the final word. Check this out. Revelation 21 verse 4 says, He will wipe away every tear from your eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Hey Jill, our children are safe. Our story are not over, and healing continues. As this journey comes to a close, I want y'all to hear me say this, and listen carefully, guys. You are not the worst thing you've ever done. You're not. You are not defined by your past, and most importantly, you are not alone. Listen, 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says, If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. Acceptance allows us to live, carrying love, not shame. Let's pray. Oh, gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the work you've done in our hearts. Thank you for bringing beauty out of ashes and peace from pain. Father, continue to walk with each of us as we live out our new freedom in you, as we're grounded in truth and covered in grace and filled with hope. Thank you for the grace of God, and we thank you for the grace of God, and covered in grace and filled with hope. Thank you, Lord God, for setting us free, that we are forgiven, and that we have hope. Thank you that this is possible through the mighty name of Jesus. Amen and Amen. This may be the end of this episode, but it is not the end of your story. Healing continues, and love remains, and God walks with you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for trusting this journey. You are forgiven, you are free, and you are deeply loved.