Comfort and Hope · Forgiveness · Restoration and Purpose · Inner Healing · Discipleship

Wounded and Rejecting Others, or Healed and Restoring Them?

7 min read, approximately

“For we endure all these things for your sake, so that as grace reaches many, thanksgiving may overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart; although our outer self is wearing away, our inner self is nevertheless renewed day by day. For this light, momentary affliction produces in us an increasingly excellent and eternal weight of glory. We look not at what is seen, but at what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:15-18)

You know, we may carry wounds in our hearts for many reasons. Perhaps we trusted someone who disappointed us, experienced a breakup, were betrayed, lied to or deceived, treated badly, or subjected to verbal or physical mistreatment or abuse… This has led us to live in fear, thinking that everyone who approaches us has bad intentions. By now, we have become accustomed to viewing others through the lens of our wounds!

Thinking About the Work, Not the Wrong

Do we know how many times a day God is betrayed? Do we know how many times a day people lie to God? Do we know how many times a day humanity turns its back on God? The Bible rightly says:

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)

“As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become useless. There is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

The question is… Should God harden his heart? By no means…

“For he knows our condition; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalms 103:14)

Instead:

“The Lord appeared to me long ago, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my mercy toward you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

He therefore requires this of us:

“… I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)

God chose to love us without conditions or limits (John 3:16-17)

Is There a Formula Against Pain?

There is no formula to make us immune when someone hurts us! The truth is that this will happen and keep happening. The Bible says:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for all these things must happen, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be plagues, famines, and earthquakes in various places. All this will be the beginning of suffering. Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and all nations will hate you because of my name.” (Matthew 24:6-9)

Yet Jesus teaches us that we can have peace in the storm…

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have affliction; but take courage, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

It is not about a feeling or acting on impulses based on how we feel on a particular day… Feelings and emotions vary, but God’s love is steadfast, constant, and always focused… it is a decision! It is about renewing our vision.

How Can We Renew Our Vision?

\1. Let Ourselves Be Healed

It is impossible to move forward with open wounds. Keeping silent about our pain does no good

“While I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” (Psalms 32:3)

That is why the key is to draw near:

“… then, confidently to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and find grace for timely help.” (Hebrews 4:16)

God will never show favoritism (Romans 2:10)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3)

\2. Letting Go and Forgiving

To do this, we must understand that God:

“Has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor repaid us according to our sins. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:10-12)

Therefore:

“Because of the Lord’s mercy we have not been consumed, for his mercies have never failed. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Rather:

“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some consider it a delay, but is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Forgiveness will always be part of God’s vision, so if we belong to God, forgiveness must be one of our characteristics:

“If anyone says: I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And we have this commandment from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21)

\3. Being God’s Instruments

“Let the same mindset be in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming like human beings. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Why, or for What Purpose?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

Humanity was lost, and Jesus himself chose to pay the price. Therefore:

“Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

And What Does This Have to Do With Us?

“The Lord said to him: Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

“So if anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be an instrument for honor, sanctified, useful to the Lord, and ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

God needs instruments to proclaim the virtues of the One who called us into his marvelous light! Have we not been entrusted with the work of preaching the gospel to every creature? (Matthew 16:15)… The problem is:

“How, then, will they call on the one in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone preaching to them? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce peace, who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

A world in decline needs to hear the gospel. Let us stop viewing humanity through our pain or our wounds… Let us allow God to work on us! Let us remember…

“Then he said to his disciples: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)

Do you feel that God is calling you to be healed so you can serve? Find songs that restore your soul in our Songbook at SanidApp

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook