When Healing Hurts

by Shelia Gaines


Verse for Thought: 
Jesus turned and saw her.  “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.  And the woman was healed from that moment.
When my daughter was in middle school, she fell from a slide on a playground and injured her arm.  She did not break it, but she had to wear a sling for a while.  She got used to keeping it held up in that sling position, close to her body.   Even after she took the sling off, she still held it in that same position.  My mother noticed this and “suggested” (in a way that only grandmothers can) that she start relaxing her arm and stretching it out regularly so that it wouldn’t be weak.

My daughter didn’t think she could straighten it out without it hurting.  She was right.  It did hurt a little to straighten it out but once she start straightening it out, it became easier.  The more she used it, the easier it was for her to keep using it.  Even though it hurt to begin to exercise it, that was the best thing for it.

Likewise, if we want to grow in our faith, we must exercise it.  James lets us know that faith without works is dead (2:26).  It’s not enough to just believe, we must also act.  When we have been hurt, we have a tendency to hold our pain close instead of releasing it to the Lord.  Sometimes it’s easier for us to nurse the pain of the past hurt instead of trusting God through the pain of healing.

If this is where you find yourself today, it’s not too late for the healing to begin.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of us when we are hurt and loving us through the healing process.  Help us to continue to trust you even more.

Take the Next Step:
Don’t be afraid of the healing process.   Why not start today by making a list of the things that have keep you “in a sling position.”  Prayerfully consider each one and trust God to move in your situation.  Let Go and Let God!!!