Been Wounded Lately?

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

The first time I can remember hearing the word "wound" was when I was a little girl in the 1940's.  World War II was raging and I heard my parents talking about soldiers from our town who had been wounded in battle.  My mother explained to me that a wound was a really bad hurt that bad soldiers had caused our own soldiers.  She explained that it would be like my being pushed down on the sidewalk and skinning my knee except that for soldiers, it was much worse.  Mother wasn't very graphic, but I knew what a badly skinned knee was.  I knew it hurt and I knew it made me cry.  My skinned knees and elbows usually healed with a kiss from Mother, that "red stuff in the small bottle that didn't burn" and a band-aid.

I've had a lot of physical wounds since that time in my life.  I carry a couple of scars on the back of my right hand where a very friendly dog accidentally scratched me.  Boy did it hurt and I have to tell you that for weeks, the back of my hand was a sight.  It wasn't enough to have any stitches but it probably took a month or two for my hand to heal.  During the healing process, my hand was very sore to the touch and was not pretty to look at.  Right now though, I can touch those scars, and they don't hurt anymore.  I can look at the criss-cross scar on the back of my hand now and remember a loveable dog and it's wonderful owners.   However, I'm not going to be addressing physical wounds in my words to you. No matter how bad they are, I have found that wounds of the heart and spirit inflicted by others can be so much more painful.  Just as the healing on the back of my hand took time to heal, so do our inner wounds.  Healthy healing really does take time.

Our wounds of the heart can turn out the same if we let them.  However, I know people who have held onto bitterness for years.  They relive their wounds over and over only to find that the infection of bitterness has taken over their lives.  Christians holding onto such bitterness, may find their testimony negatively affected and perhaps their health as well.  We're not meant to hold on for dear life to those hurts that probably in most cases, we couldn't have done anything about anyway.  Wouldn't it be better if we let our hurts and wounds grow us spiritually.  There are good things that can come from wounds.  The following are some examples from nature:

     Wheat that is thrashed...for what....that you and I may have bread

     Peeled oranges................for what....healthy food, juice and refreshment

     Pressed fresh flowers.....for what....perfumes and resulting products

     Beaten olives...................for what....oil for the golden candlestick in the tabernacle

     Olives couldn't just be pressed to render oil from them.  Scripture says that the oil for the golden candlestick had to come from olives that were beaten.  That particular oil caused the light from the candlestick to burn clearer and brighter.  I often think that when you and I feel the most wounded (beaten up) is when our light for Christ can shine the brightest and clearest.

I don't minimize the wounds we are sometimes called upon to endure, but I have learned that our wounds can be turned into blessing for God's glory.  He wants to use every single thing in our lives to somehow touch the lives of others.  We are living in a world-weary day with people who are looking for Christians who live out their faith in such a way that a relationship with Jesus Christ looks inviting.  Some Christians may even watch us to see how we get through  the wounds that are often inflicted upon us.  When people know we have been through a terrible time of wounding, they may not understand the sweet spirit that can radiate from our lives during those times.  When we go through our own thrashings, others hopefully will be lead to the Bread of Life.  Our wounds for a time may be very red, hurtful and noticeable.  As we keep functioning in Holy Spirit power, we will later look at a personal scar or two and we may even be able to smile.

Some things we can remember:

1.  God knows every hurt of any kind inflicted by anyone that touches us.  He wants to comfort us like a mother would tend to her child's physical boo-boo.  There are some folks, however who refuse the comfort of God and want to roll around in self-pity, always seeking the sympathy of others.  Others can do only so much...God comforts as no one else can.

2.  Every wound in our lives is to be basted in praise.

                                       In EVERYTHING give thanks:

                                                   for this is the will of God

                                             in Christ Jesus concerning you.

                                                      I Thessalonians 5:18

3.  Along with the above, we need to be careful how much energy we give to our hurts and wounds.  Such loss of energy can affect us mentally, spiritually and maybe physically.  When wounded, we still need to take care of ourselves physically.   Attention still needs to be given to our prayer life that isn't always complaining to God, but that offers times of praise as well.  Bible reading is a must.  I might suggest though that when sorely wounded, Revelation might not be the best book from which to read.  Select those Scriptures that are a balm for the soul.  Select some of those passages ahead of time when not hurting for your spiritual emergency kit and keep that list handy to refer to in times of difficulty.

4.  Remember that there are wounds that are contageous.  Physically there are infections that can spread because of exposure to someone else.  There are vulnerable people who will take on the hurts of others and we don't want to be a spiritual hinderance in their lives.  We should limit sharing information about our wounds only with a very few trusted, spiritually mature persons.  Sometimes speaking openly about a specific difficulty can minister to people, but  I am talking about the habit of just venting our hurts with anyone who will listen.  That isn't beneficial for anyone...speaker or hearers.

5.  I have to say somewhere in all of this that we must avoid self-inflicted wounds.  Too often we take on the problems of others.  In doing so, our minds can be marked and scarred causing constant turmoil.  I have decided that I am at an age where I just can't do that anymore.  I tend to go off on guilt binges.  I've decided if I have done something wrong to someone, I will  apologize, learn from it and go on.  I'm weary of people who get ticked off at just about anything because so much rides on their mood of the day.  I allow things like that to do too much damage to my own spirit.  That's not God's intention for any of us. 

 We can also  wound ourselves with worry.  We moms are especially pro's at this activity.  I have determined that I will have a concern for those around me, but only God can take care of  things no matter how much of it I mentally take on.  I will do what God wants me to do and leave the rest with Him.  It's a huge order for me but in His strength I know I can have victory.  If it doesn't work, it sure isn't His fault. 

6.  We must pray for those who have wounded us and forgive them.  This is about as tough as it gets, but we are commanded to forgive even when people hurt us deeply.  We forgive because God forgives us and He commands us to forgive.  Jesus in His model prayer said, "Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us."  That's a lot of forgivin'.

7.  Take everything to the Lord.  He doesn't mind tears and doesn't need fancy long prayers when we sit in a heap of hurt.  There have been times I've just had to say through tears, "Lord, help me!" because that was all I could utter with the broken heart that was throbbing inside of me at the time.  We tend to go first to everyone else with our hurts instead of where we are supposed to go.

                                           Cast thy burden upon the Lord,

                                                and He shall sustain thee;

                                        He shall never suffer the righteous

                                                          to be moved.

                                                        Psalms 55:22

Let's never forget  the wounding that Jesus endured for us.  He suffered pain...the worst of pain...undeserved pain...and it was for you and me.

                                But He was wounded for our trangressions

                                          He was bruised for our iniquities:

                                         the chastisement of our peace was

                                             upon Him and with His stripes

                                                          we are healed.

                                                            Isaiah 53:5

Wounded...bruised...chastisement...stripes...all four of those things were deliberate physical acts.  He endured hateful, aggressive torture not counting the malicious taunting involved.  This occured all for you and me.  Through all of that, you and I have spiritual wholeness and healing.  In light of His suffering, the wounds we sustain on this earth for a time seem to pale in light of all He endured.

PRAYER:

Thank You, my Savior, for bearing all You did for me on the cross.  The hurts I endure on this earth are nothing compared to what You bore for me.   May I never forget Your willingness to be wounded for me.  Thank You dear Jesus for who You are in my life everyday.  Forgive my being forgetful of all You did.  As You forgive me, may I be willing to forgive others.  I love You.   Amen