Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
I’ve always found it terrifyingly fascinating that in order to help an injury heal properly, it’s sometimes necessary to re-break a bone. Maybe it’s mind-blowing to me because I lack all knowledge in bodily science and that sort of stuff, but it’s such an extreme double negative if you sit back and think of it.
Your leg is broken… You’re in excruciating pain. You can leave it be, work through the initial hurt, and then walk forever on a leg with kinks and this never-ending underlying pain because it healed wrong, or you can re-break the bone in order to truly heal, fully heal, and live life without the constant ache of your injury…
The answer seems obvious when it comes to physical injuries, right? But why is it so hard for us to do the same with the emotional and mental injuries we suffer from? We aren’t promised an easy-peasy life, we’re actually promised trials, suffering, hard times, and pain. We live in a broken world where tragedy is inevitable and we’re bound to get hurt here and there. Don’t lose hope as I write some hard truths. I know this isn’t butterflies and rainbows, a happy-go-lucky way to start the day, but it is something we’ve got to recognize and acknowledge.
When we’ve been wounded; whether that be by a toxic relationship, abandonment, hurtful words that stuck and soaked in, etc. we’d rather turn our backs on the hurt and walk on, leaving it undealt with. That’s option one for taking care of a broken leg… is it not? You can leave it be, work through the initial hurt, and then walk forever on a leg with kinks and this never-ending underlying pain because it healed wrong.
I’m going to challenge you to think about this on a personal level. What if you dealt with it? What if you faced it, that hurt and pain, the injury you’re carrying around. And here’s the real kicker, what if you didn’t have to do it alone? You see, as followers of Jesus, our past and pain aren’t meant to be a backpack of bricks we lug around and fight to rid ourselves of. It’s stuff Jesus promises to bear for us. He promises to bear our burdens, be near in times of trouble, and comfort us along the way.
You’re not alone today as you face those past hurts and deep wounds that have been healing all wrong. You’re not alone as you allow Jesus to help in the proper healing process. He’s near and he brings fellow brothers and sisters in Christ near along the journey if you open up and let him. Who has God placed in your circle, in your world today? Call a friend, call a leader, call a mentor or a pastor. Reach out to those around you and watch as your healing becomes transformative and Jesus changes you from the inside out.