Stronger Than Before
by Linda Godsey
"For I am poor and needy, and my heart
is wounded within me." (Psalm 109:22)
Katrina’s fury has traumatized the hearts of countless numbers in the southeastern part of the nation. The wrath of Rita is being felt in Texas and Louisiana again. While these devastating events cannot be changed or reversed, the hearts of the people affected by its ravage can be. Whether you have been through the anguish of a literal hurricane or the storms that living life on planet earth can bring, Jesus wants to heal them all, no matter how big or small.
When I was in first grade, my teacher, Ms. Wilkins, was partial to a female student who was like a granddaughter to her. The girl was beautiful, talented, and happened to live next door to my teacher. When Eve talked (during quiet time when we were all supposed to be silent), the teacher put the blame on one of the other students – namely me! When Eve misbehaved, the teacher ignored it. This continued throughout the school year.
First grade was my introduction to the big world of "life is not fair." As an adult, I would have been able to articulate situations such as these and deduce that it was the teacher who had a problem, not me. As a six year old child, my interpretation of partiality and favoritism was, “there is something wrong with me.” As little children, we don't know how to interpret unfairness. Many hurts are registered in our hearts that are carried into our adult life. Without realizing it, I projected those judgments from my hurts toward the teacher onto God and authority figures.
Years later, when I had difficulty relating to authority, I came to realize my belief system toward God and those in authority was, “they are unfair, unjust, and partial.” Individuals who have been wounded in their heart often tend to be hurtful, insensitive, and reactive. Wounded people have a fear of intimacy and difficulty in trusting God and others. As a result, we put on masks and pretend life couldn't be better. Others of us isolate or distance ourselves from others, fearing being wounded again. Personally, I’ve done both.
Did you know that it is our reactions to events that require healing? Events cannot be changed. Events cannot be healed. But our attitudes toward self, God, and others that spring from an event can be redeemed. Emotions of anger, resentment, unforgiveness and bitterness can be exchanged for freedom and forgiveness. Our feelings of guilt and shame can be replaced with self-forgiveness. Destructive feelings of self-hatred can potentially be traded for self-love. Fear and trauma can be comforted and soothed by His peace.
Here's the good news about the bad news: We can bring our hurts, wounds, and yes, even traumas to the Cross and Jesus will heal them. Jesus bore our wounds upon the Cross and made provision for healing our wounded hearts. Many of our wounds are caused by the agony of abuse, rejection, abandonment, betrayal, neglect, serious illnesses, personal failure, injustices, prejudice, and losses in all shapes and sizes.
The process for healing is simple and yet profound.
1. Confront the lies of the enemy. What does the Word of God have to say on the subject?
2. Forgive the offenders (release them to God).
3. Bring our hurts to the Lord and ask him to heal them.
4. Command all demonic influences to go -- never to return -- in Jesus' name.
Janny Grimes recorded a song a few years ago entitled Stronger than Before. One phrase from the song proclaims, "Broken wings take time to mend." As we go through times of healing from our past wounds, the potential is there to become stronger than before. Some emotional wounds take longer than others to heal just as some physical wounds require more time to mend according to the severity of the injury. Again, the good news is that the wounds will heal, given the right treatment, time, and attention by the Great Physician.
This Week
Pray for those wounded by the hurricanes in Louisiana and Texas. Then, examine your own life for areas of pain and walk through the 4-step process of healing.
Prayer
"Lord, come into my life as the Great Physician, reaching into the deepest parts of me to bring healing."
