Healing for the Brokenhearted

      By Fern Horst

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)

Some time ago I was unwisely reviewing hurts of the past, feeling the pain again deeply. The despairing thought crossed my mind that I'd likely always feel the pain. As quickly as that thought entered my mind, I also heard God saying to me, "Not if I take it away." Immediately the ache lifted, and to date has not returned.

I must hasten to add that God doesn't always lift emotional and spiritual pain instantly when we bring it to Him. Just as in physical healing, God sometimes heals us immediately in a miraculous sort of way, and other times through a much slower process. I'd say that in all types of healing, the slower process is usually the more common. But there are occasions when we do experience or witness a taste of God's ability to bring healing in a split second - whether it be physical, spiritual, or emotional. These experiences increase our faith in the One who can and does heal, in His own timing and in His own way, and gives us strength to endure when the healing doesn't come quite so quickly.

We might think that a loving God would always want to relieve all of our suffering as soon as possible, and I believe He does. But He also wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus. And if Jesus "learned obedience by the things which he suffered," why do we think that God would short circuit our learning by eliminating all of our suffering right away?*

Cooperating with God's work in our lives is the shortest route to the healing of our brokenness. But it doesn't mean that it will happen today, or tomorrow, or even this year. The process of healing is often as important as the healing itself, because of who we become and what we learn through it. God uses our difficult experiences to prepare us for the work He has for us in His Kingdom, whether in this world or in the next. But even if the relief from the ache doesn't come as quickly as we'd like, God's presence and involvement in that healing is as close and as real as when He lifts that ache in an instant.

If you are struggling now with a spiritual, physical, or emotional wound, take a moment to envision God as your Caregiver, lovingly spreading healing salve over the wound, and carefully binding it so that healing can come. Submit yourself to His care and whatever process He wants to use to bring healing. As our Creator He knows best how to bring that about.

If you've already experienced God's healing and are enjoying spiritual, physical, and emotional health, spend some time praying for those who are struggling and still awaiting God's healing touch. Pray that their faith would be strengthened, pray for grace and endurance as they wait, and pray that God's purpose in the process of healing will be fulfilled in their lives.

"For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after." (Jeremiah 30:17)

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." (Malachi 4:2)

* Hebrews 5:8

© 2007 Fern Horst

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