There are very few people who have never been really hurt emotionally…and most of those are probably still in grade school. The older we get, the more we find ourselves hurt. As we walk through life, it doesn’t matter what we do, who we serve, or how we live our life…we will get hurt. Sometimes, we set ourselves up for that hurt and other times we do absolutely nothing to cause that hurt. Either way, the hurt is a result of living in a fallen world. How do we get over that hurt, though? There is a chance that the process to heal can, in fact, be painful too.
The journey toward healing is very interesting. As a counseling student, I met many hurting people and there was one thing that every case had in common, walking through the pain to receive healing can be the hardest thing we will ever endure. Why is that? It all depends on the levels of hurt, how long it took us to deal with that hurt, and where we currently are in our development…or how many parts of the journey we were forced to skip because the dysfunction of those around us. Regardless, it never is easy to get over the pain of this life.
Is healing worth it, then? Absolutely!!!! We need healing, folks. God, in fact, loves healing. Look at Jesus and how many people He healed throughout the Bible – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I am not sure if we can actually put a number on how many people he reached out in that way because there are so many people who came to Him. I am not going to try to count, but as reference, please see Luke 7:21-23, Mark 5:34, and John 5:8-9 to see examples of how Jesus healed people.
Did God’s healing end when Christ ascended into heaven? Emphatically no! You can receive healing just like those in the Bible because God sent the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:7-8 says “’You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.’” Through the Holy Spirit, that lives in us (Ephesians 4:30), we can do amazing things…including heal. Healing can come from relationships God sets up, the prayers of saints, or healing through counseling. Whatever God leads you to do, please do.
What happens when we start down that road? Why can this journey be painful when we are supposed to be receiving healing and restoration? The scenario I always gave those who sought counseling through the site I worked was this one – please forgive me if you have a weak stomach –
When I was in 1st grade, I got hurt playing kickball. Not only was I a girly-girl, loving frilly skirts and cute shoes, I also loved being one of the guys. A contradiction, I know, but I have never been normal in my life. 🙂 As I was running to a base, a person standing close to me pelted me with the kickball. Being a scrawny girl (at the time…hehe), I fell pretty hard on the concrete parking lot. Both of my knees got completely scrapped up…pretty gruesome. When I got home that day, my mom decided to treat my scraps with Hydrogen Peroxide. For those who have ever had any cuts or scraps treated with this concoction knows how painful it can be. I believe I screamed…loud…the first time she poured it on. I watched as the white bubbles brought up little bits of rocks, dirt, and bodily fluids (told you it was gross!). Every time my mom treated me with Hydrogen Peroxide, the less things came up. Eventually, the scabs went away and now, you cannot even tell what happened.
Can you imagine, though, if I waited to treat it, if I let the dirt, and the rocks to sit in my skin and fester? The scars and the pain would be over the top. The journey of emotional healing is just like this…except it is with our souls. We must deal with the things down deep. If you don’t, the damage can get so bad that you can hurt those around you.
May I suggest that if this blog post touched you in some way, that you might want to consider help? First, I suggest that you cry out to God. Just like Moses, David, Daniel, and Paul did in their lifetimes, God will come to your rescue. Listen to what He has to say. If you don’t, healing cannot fully happen. Take heed of those He puts in your life. Whether you can be healed through prayer only, or if you need to join prayer with counseling or some sort of mentorship, do it! Take care of you and all will be well. Second, lay your ego down. It only gets in the way. Allow God to bring everything to you in this time of need and rely on that. Pride will only cause the wound to get deeper. Healing comes when we become vulnerable to the God who breathed life into us. Ultimately, the greatest medicine we can accept is the Father’s perfect grace and love.
I will leave this blog with one profound statement:
Lay it at the cross and let Him carry you.
Be blessed.
Boldly Radiant 