No More "Reproach"..but what does that mean?

Today I was encouraged afresh by of my favourite verses.

I love how you can pick up a seemingly familiar verse and God touches your heart in such a way it feels like you are reading it for the first time.

Zephaniah 3:17-18
The Lord God is your midst,
a mighty one who will save:
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you with his love;
HE will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach

Mmm, I think to myself. What does reproach mean? What do I no longer have to suffer from?

So I go to the dictionary and I am overjoyed at what I find. As it turns out I have suffered reproach many times and so have many others who have been bullied.

re·proach

rəˈprōCH/

verb

1. 1.

   address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment.

   "critics of the administration reproached the president for his failure to tackle the deficiency"

noun

1. 1.

   the expression of disapproval or disappointment.

   "he gave her a look of reproach"

It hurts to no end to have been rejected and have had people constantly address you with disapproval or disappointment. It hurts to no end. It takes time to rebuild your self worth after you have been bullied. I am still working on it. With God'd help I am reminding myself daily that I am one who is worthy to be rejoiced and sang over and so are you.

If I come across someone treating me with reproach now a days I can have boundaries. Particularly if I see them often or are related to them.

Oh my this brings so much freedom to my heart.

God is working. He really is and I have been leaping for joy across my farm at the ongoing victory He is leading me into. At the victory He will lead you into. The look on the cows faces is priceless! 

Zephaniah 3:19,20 

continues to bring much comfort and healing hope to my heart.

v.19a.Behold at that time I will deal with all your oppressors.

(Woohoo no more bullies are going to win over me any more)

And I will save the lame and gather the outcast,

(outcast as in rejected..by man but not by God!)

and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together

for I will make you renowned...mmm so I look up renowned in the dictionary and am again blown away

re·nowned

rəˈnound/

adjective

1. known or talked about by many people; famous.

   "a restaurant renowned for its Southwestern-style food"

   synonyms:

   famous, celebrated, famed, eminent, distinguished, acclaimed, illustrious, preeminent, prominent, great, esteemed, of note, of repute, well known, well-thought-of "a renowned Indian filmmaker"

v19b. and praised among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore you fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Yey! That gives me so much hope. Time for more cow dancing!

I really like how the classical amplified version words Zephaniah 3:20

Zephaniah 3:20 (AMPC)

At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the nations of the earth when I reverse your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord.

He wants to reverse my captivity and or restore my fortunes. I mean at first I was not too concerned about my fortunes. I grew up poor and all but money is not going to help my heart out much. Although money can buy me some good counselling, Acceptance is not something you can buy.  

So together lets truly embrace this truth. For those of us who have endured painful bullying lets together remember who is on our side. Our BIG God who is mighty and able to save, love and nurture our broken hearts. 

Run to Him in your pain and I promise you He will meet you there.