Issue 665 – Wounded – February 24, 2022
Gleanings From the Word – experience an extraordinary God in ordianry life
Today’s image was my thumb a few years ago. In a short period, I managed to introduce both my thumbs to the blade of my table saw. Both times it hurt, but it could have been far more painful.
Life in a broken world comes with woundedness and pain. We can have physical, emotional, spiritual and relational distress, often more than one at once.
Physical pain hurts. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a degree in medicine to understand that. Even small children can relate.
Emotional, relational and spiritual pain cut far deeper and hurt more than physical injury. The old adage says, “Sticks and stones can never break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” That is a lie. Often those forms of pain are far more hurtful than physical pain.
Pain is designed to be an indicator that something is wrong. It’s a form of alarm system that drives us to deal with something that might be wrong. Unfortunately, in our modern western culture, we are used to avoiding pain at all costs, even pain that can help us. It is actually a gift from God.
I have often had people say things to me like, “God gave me a wonderful opportunity to do something special and I didn’t take it. Now I’m afraid He doesn’t love me any more.” A variant is “I fell back into terrible sin and I’m afraid God won’t ever forgive me again.”
The Lord will never leave you, but He may discipline you. The discipline is designed to make you more fruitful and shape you in the image of the Son.
These are ordinary people in great pain. If you saw them, you probably wouldn’t know they feel like they’re dying on the inside. They might be sitting next to you on a Sunday morning, minister in your church, or even be part of your family.
Often they just slowly and quietly slip away from the church in their self-imposed shame.
When we’re physically injured, we usually get medical help of some form to heal our bodies. When we’ve been injured spiritually, we often run from the source of healing. Satan lies to us and tells us we can’t ever be forgiven. We’ve been hurt in the past by sharing with someone in the church when we shared our pain. Maybe our church doesn’t condone sharing.
Like a nasty physical wound that doesn’t receive attention, an injury to the spirit that doesn’t receive tending keeps on bleeding. Infection sets in and makes the hurt even messier. The pain festers, our spirit weakens, and we fall further and further away from the one who can heal us.
Our healing comes from the Lord.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
I will go out on a limb here and probably offend some people because there are different interpretations for this verse. If you disagree with me on this, I’m sorry, but that’s life sometimes. This verse isn’t a promise that God will heal all our physical ailments in this lifetime. Yes, He can do that and often does, but it isn’t a guarantee.
It means that for our sin, He brings healing. He heals our wounded and battered spirit. That’s the most critical healing there is, to be made right again with God. That is eternal healing, not simply transitory physical healing.
Recognizing our sin and surrendering to the Lord can be painful. We need to be broken before we seek healing and restoration. Yet the peace and joy that follows being born again exceed anything else.
God heals, and God forgives. Sometimes, He allows us to keep our pain until we are truly broken and repentant. There may be seasons where the Lord is refining us, which can involve moments of dark distress.
If you are His and hurting, examine your heart. Take it to Him. Allow the gift of pain to draw you closer to Him. Run to Him, pour out your heart and soul. Allow Him to heal your woundedness.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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