Presentation text taken from the book, Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts (Kregel, 2013), co-written by Tina Samples

1. TwoWomen in
Solomon’sCourt
Friend or Foe?

2. “And when you
stand praying, if
you hold
anythingagainst
anyone, forgive
them, so that
your Father in
heavenmay
forgive you your
sins.” Mark 11:25
 Both women were wounded: one by a loss that was
unthinkable, the other by an act that was unbelievable.
 Grief causes us to do strange things.
 When has a friend hurt you? Did you find it hard to
forgive?
 The word ‘vulnerable’ comes from the Latin word for
‘wound’; it means, literally, woundable.
 The temptation is to shut off; but God wants us to heal
so we can risk relationships again.

3. “Blessedis the one
whosetransgressions
areforgiven,
whosesins are
covered.
Blessedis the one
whosesin
the LORD does not
countagainst them
andin whose spirit is
nodeceit.” Ps. 32:1-2
 Jesus hurts with us (Mary and Martha, Lazarus’
death—”Jesus wept.”). He longs to comfort us
in our grief.
 God will bring us to a place where we can
forgive, in His power.
 God calls us to forgive because He forgave us.
 Not forgiving is like eating poison and waiting
for the rat to die.

4. “Forget the
former things;
do not dwell
on the past.”
Isaiah 43:18
 Gratitude is a skill that can be developed. Joy
comes from living with a grateful heart.
 Am I holding onto something that I need to let
go of?What is God chiseling away in me? Am I
being obedient, or am I resisting?
 With Him, ALL things are possible. Even
forgiving the worst betrayal imaginable.

5. “Then you will
know the
truth, and the
truth will set
you free.”
John 8:31-32
 God conforms us to the image of His son, and
much of that comes through trials.
 Later, we will be able to give hope to others
with the healing we have received from Jesus.
 In God’s economy, our wounded places become
ministry spaces.