Healing can often be a long and painful process. Many of us, if not all of us, have been through some things that require us to heal in order to move forward. Have you ever felt stuck in the same space? or have found yourself going around in the same circle? Wondering, "how did I end up back here?" I am sure I am not the only one. Sometimes we think we have healed from things that we have actually learned to mask. I mean really...my neighbor texted me a few months back asking if we had duck tape...so, off I went to her house with my duck tape to find out that she was trying to use it to mask the hole in her sink. Well, needless to say, the tape can only last so long. Eventually, that tape will wear and tear and we will have the same exact problem...again. I should follow up with her to see how that tape worked out!
It is easy to mask the things that we have been through...the hurt, the pain, the heartbreak, the disapointment, the rejection, the abuse, the abandonment, etc. A couple years ago, my life came to a screeching halt when I found myself going around the same circle that I thought I had worked through. As a believer, I had a conversation with the Lord, "but God, I thought we worked through this, I thought I was healed...good to go!" but the truth was, I had only learned to mask what I was battling. The tape I was using wore and tore, like a good ole' pair of ripped jeans. The truth is, we have to deal in order to heal. We have to deal with the pain. We have to deal with the hurt. One of my favorite country songs by Rascal Flatt's says, "let it hurt, let it be, let it take right down to your knees, let it burn to the worst degree, may not be what you want but it's what you need". We often don't let ourselves sit with the pain in order to deal with it.
living our best life in chitown!
Recently, a close friend of mine and I were having a conversation around feelings of rejection. We discussed how certain things in life we may seek healing for from the Lord may just be a thorn in our flesh. Paul begged God three times to heal him, and He responded to Paul saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul had a thorn in his flesh that kept him humbly dependent on God. Some things will just be thorns that we have to continuously work through and depend on Jesus for in those moments. We have to trust that Gods grace is truly sufficient, that His strength will be made perfect in our moments of weakness. What are your moments of weakness? We all have them!
Recently, a close friend of mine and I were having a conversation around feelings of rejection. We discussed how certain things in life we may seek healing for from the Lord may just be a thorn in our flesh. Paul begged God three times to heal him, and He responded to Paul saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul had a thorn in his flesh that kept him humbly dependent on God. Some things will just be thorns that we have to continuously work through and depend on Jesus for in those moments. We have to trust that Gods grace is truly sufficient, that His strength will be made perfect in our moments of weakness. What are your moments of weakness? We all have them!
Healing is also something that takes time. We live in a microwave, at your finger tips kind of society. We want everything to happen instantly, over night and many times we wish the healing of our hearts worked that way too. I am sure those who have suffered from a broken heart can attest to this. Just wishing, hoping and praying the pain away. I don't blame you. Healing often is a work in progress...we take a couple step forwards then one step back. I remember one day about four years ago feeling compelled to sit down and have a hard conversation with someone about something that had happened many years ago. I was nervous, but had the conversation and it turned out to be a moment that brought healing. I expressed how what had happened made me feel, but that I loved them and forgave them. Having that hard, uncomforable conversation and confessing how I felt was an important part of the healing process.
fall is both of our favorite seasons!
Healing can at times require hard work or it can require rest. When we break a bone and are in a cast, sometimes physical therapy is required and we have to put in the work to regain muscle strength. When we fall or get a cut, we have to clean out the wound and cover it so it doesn't get infected. When we catch a cold and get sick, we often need to slow down and rest. Just this past week I caught a pretty bad cough. Instead of resting, I attempted to push through...so I went to the gym. I ended up overworking my body and getting a fever. Healing hurts. I have learned that is an experience of pulling back different layers and confronting what needs to be dealt with instead of supressing it. Healing takes form in many ways...through therapy, medication, working through difficulties, confessing our sins, moments of faith. It is a journey worth traveling. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed in the process, don't give up!
Xoxo,
Beth
Xoxo,
Beth
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