A Time for Healing

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Wounds can be physical, emotional, and spiritual. In our faith journeys we often get wounded. Wounds stem from many different sources: abuse, unfaithfulness, divorce, unhealthy relationships, bullying, neglect, poor self-image, etc. Most people bear some kind of wound, and some people unfortunately harbor multiple unhealed wounds and scars.

 

 Are you wounded? Do you suffer from any of these symptoms
·         Perfectionism
·         Feelings of guilt and shame
·         Feeling you’re never good enough
·         Low self-image
·         Self-hatred
·         Critical spirit
·         Insecurity
·         Jealousy
·         Bitterness
·         Rage

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you could be “running wounded.”

Do you recognize these as symptoms of being wounded? Sometimes we overlook the cause and continue with the symptoms. We try to fit in, act properly, or we often live in denial about our wounds. We think if we ignore them, they will go away. We justify our wounds and try to be good, not rock the boat, and be in control. These are attempts to live above the wound.

Running wounded and living above the wound have effects on our physical, spiritual, and emotional health. We focus on the negatives instead of positives. We see the impossibilities instead of the possibilities, and we are filled with fear instead of faith.

The focus on problems, difficulties, and the blows of life leave you sapped of energy, discouraged, and fearful. When we focus on our problems instead of our solutions, we are living in our weaknesses. This focus will have an effect on our spiritual journey.

Steps to Receive Healing for Wounds

1.  ACKNOWLEDGE the need for healing
2.  LOCATE the cause of the pain.
3.  CLEANSE the wound.
4.  RECEIVE HEALING of the hurt.
5.  STRENGTHEN the weak area.

How do we gain strength when we’ve been wounded?  Let’s look at 4 P’s to help us gain strength.

1.    Prayer
2.    Promises in Scripture
3.    Positive Affirmations
4.    Positive Christian support

As we gain strength in our weak areas, let us remember never to waste our wounds. We use all that we have experienced to provide love and encouragement to others who are wounded.

 

David's plea in Psalm 40 is for emotional healing. It gives us hope also for healing.

Psalm 40

 ¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
       he turned to me and heard my cry.

 ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
       out of the mud and mire;
       he set my feet on a rock
       and gave me a firm place to stand.

 ³ He put a new song in my mouth,
       a hymn of praise to our God.

 Click on the link below to hear my 1 hour lesson on A Time for Healing. 

 A Time for Healing by Dr. Cathy Robbs Turner