The Downward Spiral: Ep 7: "Breaking Free: Choosing Restoration Over Despair"

0:00 Welcome to Faith on the Go series with the Diary of the Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today's episode is titled The Descent or Ascent, A Choice of Restoration. We'll focus on the crucial choice that every person faces, whether to remain in the spiral of brokenness or to ascend towards healing and restoration through Christ. Life is full of defining moments, crossroads where we must choose between staying in a place of pain or moving toward redemption.

0:43 The spiral we've discussed in previous episodes is not a prison unless we allow it to be. There is always a way out because God's grace makes it possible. Today, we'll dive into what the Bible teaches us about this choice and how to lean into God's strength to rise from the lowest points. So if you can go with me to Luke chapter 15. I know I should be there already. Luke chapter 15, verses 17 through 20. I love it. Verses 17 through 20.

1:24 And then here we go. When he finally came to his senses, this is a prodigal, son when he returns home or when he decides to return home. It says, when he came to his senses, He said, how many of my father's higher servants have food to spare? And here I am starving to death. I was sent out and go back. I was sent out and go back to my father and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. That's powerful. The prodigal son made a choice when he came to his senses. A lot of times we have our children who don't quite get it when we explain to them about the real world.

2:13 But when they come to their senses, they come back home. And God is saying, come back home. We're never too far from his reach. So if you are aspiring out of control, if you're saying, I don't know if God still will accept me. he is saying to you right now, yes, come back home. The story of the prodigal son reminds us that it's never too late to make the choice to return to God. Understanding the descent. Let's talk about what it means to descend. Descent happens when we embrace hopelessness. When we believe the lie that change is impossible.

3:01 How many times people tell you that, or we get that in our mind, that stinking thinking that this will never change. I've been there. This will never, ever change. You know, I was a single mom and the babies are crying. You don't have enough money from day one. And it's just rough out there, right? You know, especially it's just rough when you're, when it's only you, you can't find the father and you're just taking care of your children. You're not going to let them starve to death. So you have these moments of hopelessness and you believe that will this ever change? And that little baby girl, my little baby boy, they are successful citizens of the United States of America and I am so proud of them.

3:47 But it's because I did not give up when I thought all things were hopeless. We settle into dysfunction. Instead of seeking help, we normalize chaos. How many people live in a state of chaos all the time? And we just think that is a normal thing. But we settle into this dysfunction when we have the Prince of Peace, which is Jesus, saying that I bring peace in this chaos. Amen. So you can ask the Lord for peace. Lord, I am so tired of living in this dysfunction. And I can remember, we all have stories about when we get sick and tired of living in chaos, we have to just be real and say, Lord, I'm sick of this chaos.

4:39 I'm sick of this chaos. I remember working at like when I was sharing in my other episode that I worked at like, you know, like 7-Eleven, like these quick, quick stores. They stay open 24-7. They were easy to work at because, you know, I had kids and I would work around, work the shift that when my mom can babysit, you know. And I said, I'm tired of working in these kind of jobs because, you know, different strange people come in those stores. And back in the day, they had the Playboy magazines out where we had to keep those behind the counter. And you had people saying, give me this and that. So you had to pull out these magazines and different things that, you know, you don't want to be exposed to that.

5:23 And then you don't want to be exposed to the people who are exposed to that. Right. And so we kind of settle in that dysfunction. I remember asking the Lord, I said, Lord, I want a career. I want a job with a career. I want a job that I can have insurance. I want a job where I can have a pension. I want a job, a career. You know, I want that type of job. And so I wasn't even a Christian, but I'm asking the Lord because I know he had to hear me because he made all that happen. And so we can always get out of that chaos. We just have to ask. And I'm not saying it was easy. Because a lot of that stuff is dysfunctional because we dysfunctional.

6:05 So we have to find a way to kind of get out of that slowly. But needless to say, it is doable. We reject grace. Remember, descent, we reject grace. We convince ourselves that we're unworthy of forgiveness. We have that self-pity. God will never forgive me. But this boy, this son of this pride, the son, he says, I'm coming to my senses. I cannot be here hungry when I know my dad got some good meat. He got some good food at home. So just as a prodigal son found himself at rock bottom, many of us hit emotional or spiritual lows.

6:45 But the question remains, will we stay there? Have you identified the areas in your life where you've settled instead of seeking restoration? liberation. When we settle for things, we're never comfortable. We will never be comfortable. We will never, ever be comfortable. I don't know about you, but if you're settled. For anything, it's not a good thing. Settle for anything. Bible stories on redemption. I love both of these stories. The Bible is filled with stories of people who ascended from brokenness to purpose. I love the story of Joseph. I don't have time to read it today, but go to Genesis 37 to 50.

7:31 It's a good story. And you'll hear it a lot in my devotional because Joseph, he was betrayed and sold by his brothers. Joseph experienced years of hardship, but never lost sight of God's promise. His ascent led him, saving nations during famines. He even saved his family, the brothers who sold him into slavery. So he had this heart that he didn't hold any grudges, He just said, and if you read the story, every time I read it, I pretty much cry at the end because he had to have a heart. He went through hell and high waters, if that makes sense to you.

8:13 It was a lot that he went through, but it matured him. But as he matured, it also grew his relationship to Jesus. He came really close to his father, God. Then we know David's story, it sounds 51. after his fall into sin, David repented with a broken and contrite heart and God restored him. David's story has a lot of ups, downs, and all arounds, but in the end, God said that he had a heart for him. David had a heart for God. Why? Because David was quick to repent. David got into a whole lot of stuff, but he was always quick to repent.

8:55 So our father doesn't really hold grudges against us. Just be quick to repent. Both of these stories remind us that an ascent starts with humility and a desire to be restored. So once you decide that I've had enough, then guess what? You can rise up and then things will start to change. A heart of restoration. Restoration is more than recovery. It's about God's complete renewal in what was lost. Repentance. True change starts with admitting where we've gone astray.

9:36 So you have to be real with God. You know exactly when you turn your back on God. When you stop listening to the Holy Spirit give you the conviction of the Holy Spirit and you just went your own way. Renewal. God doesn't fix the broken pieces. He makes us new. According to 2 Corinthians 5.17, he makes all things new. Amen. You know us women, we like all things new. We like a little used things every now and then, but we have a God that makes all things new. And then reconnection. Restoring our relationship with God also heals our connection to others. And so we have repentance, renewal and reconnection equals restoration and recovery.

10:24 Go meet Isaiah 61.3. What does he do after he gets us all new? We repent, we got renewal, reconnection. He says he bestows on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. God makes you beautiful. Come on. He makes you beautiful. He gives you a crown, the oil of joy, the Holy Spirit is upon you, a garment of praise. You are no longer weeping. You are praising the Lord.

11:07 God promised a restoration that turns pain into purpose. There's this script. I'm going to meet the First Chronicles. I think it's 4 and 9. And I love this prayer. It's a prayer of Jabez, if I can find it. It's four and nine. It says, there was a man named Jabez who was more honorable to any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel. Oh, that you will bless me and expand my territory. Please be with me in all that I do and keep me from all trouble and pain.

11:49 And God granted him his request. us. God is in the restoration business. And even though this prayer of Jabez is found between a genealogy, it was a prayer that was a boldness prayer, bold prayer that Jabez prayed out. He said, my mom made me pain. And maybe your story is that, that your whole life that you can even remember was all about pain. You can be bold as Jabez and pray this prayer. Matter of fact, let's just pause now and let's just pray this prayer of Jabez over you now.

12:31 Jabez's prayer says this, he says this, oh, that you will bless me and expand my territory. Father, I pray right now for those who are listening to this podcast, that you will honor the prayer that you honor for Jabez, that you will bless them, that you expand their territory, that Lord God, you would keep them from evil. And from pain. And this says, you granted Jabez's request that you would grant our request too. In Jesus' name, amen. Now, we all have a personal story to share. I remember being at the bottom of that spiral and unsure how I would rise again.

13:16 And I just remember kind of praying like something like this. I remember getting on my hands and knees, and there was a woman's devotional. And I think it's still out there. And I was reading a particular day and I was a new Christian, but in my heart, I didn't feel like I was worthy enough to be used by God. And so I remember getting on my hands and knees and I asked the Lord and I said, Lord, if you can use these women in the Bible, I want you to use me. Can you use me? And I just remember just crying out to the Lord with real tears and real hard.

14:00 Nobody was in my bedroom, but probably just the Lord looking down at me. And I feel emotional right now because it was such a true heartfelt prayer, just like the prodigal had prayed. Because you know, everything on the surface looked really nice. But at the end, I wanted the Lord to really use me in a great and mighty way. And just as Jabez was bold enough to pray out, enlarge my territory, Lord, keep your hands upon me so that I will not sin against you and keep me from trouble and pain. I wanted that same prayer. And then I know that the Lord granted my request because my life began to change.

14:45 I didn't say it was going to be perfect. I said it began to change. And so doors began to open. I was encouraged. And so today I want you to just make that space today and remind you that God hasn't forgotten you, that his plan for your life is still folding, that if you actually make that, say that prayer with me today and just lift your hands up to God and just say, you're ready for him, that he will begin to make changes in your life. You will begin to see, instead of a down spiral, you will begin to see things go upward.

15:25 Amen. So how do you begin to ascend, right? How will you begin to ascend? Just remember, God hasn't forgotten you. You acknowledge your need for help. Sometimes we'll get to pride. You know, don't ever be too proud to beg, right? Just ask the Lord for help. He hears you. Lift up your eyes. This Psalms 121, one through two. I love that Psalms. Lift up your eyes to him. He is your source of help. And you know, I love that Psalms. I know this has just been a good time with you guys today. And I'm going to spend a little bit extra time because I know this is so powerful.

16:07 But Psalms 121 and verse one and two, it says, I look up to the mountains. Does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. So we serve a Lord who created everything you see. Come on out. Number two, surround yourself with encouragement. Find community, worship, and teaching that point you to God. Speak life over yourself. Declare God's promises over your circumstances. You've been listening to my podcast since July, and you're actually getting the. Getting the devotionals with the declarations. You are speaking life over yourself, and those words are words from God.

16:52 You are actually changing your life. You're speaking life instead of negativity. And stay consistent. Growth and restoration take time, but persistence lead to transformation. So stay consistent. How do you ascend? You acknowledge your need for God. Just like the prodigal acknowledged his need to go home, he went back to his father. But the father in the Bible, the father, prodigal son, went home. You go home, back home to God. You go back home. He's calling you home. Surround yourself with encouragement. Speak life over yourself. Stay consistent.

17:33 Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you acknowledging that we need your strength to ascend from the low places in our lives. Forgive us for the times we stayed in despair when you offered us hope. We ask for your healing, for your renewing power, and for your courage to rise. We decree that we are not defined by our failures, but by your grace. We declare that our ascent has begun and that you will complete the good work you have started in us. In Jesus name. Amen. I hear the Lord say, welcome home.

18:14 Welcome home. Thank you for joining me today with the Faith on the Go series. Today's message, bless you. Share it with someone who might need encouragement. Remember, restoration is a journey, but with God, it's always possible. Join me next time as we continue this series. And remember to keep your heart open to his calling. Until next time, stay lifted by faith, strengthened by his promises, and God bless.