If you’ve ever been hurt, you know it’s not always easy to just “get over it”. When I am hurt, I am tempted to do one of three things: wallow in it, stew about it or ignore it (commonly known as ‘denial’). But, God has a better way. He wants us to work through it so that we can heal from the inside out. Here are three steps to healing, God’s way, that I have personally found to be life changing.
Facing the Facts
“We cannot change what we do not acknowledge.” – Dr. Phil McGraw
It’s simply impossible to work through a hurt that you don’t recognize exists. The problem is, to do so leaves us vulnerable. That’s why we put up our defenses, like denial and anger. But God wants us to come to Him with all our burdens and He will give us rest. If someone has done you wrong, it is painful. When you allow yourself to feel the pain, though, you let yourself become weak. And remember, when we are weak, He is strong. So, don’t skip this step, but, by all means, don’t camp out here either.
Give your Hurt to God
Don’t get stuck on step 1 or you are in big trouble. In my own life, I’ve certainly had times that I was overcome with the agony of being betrayed. To stay “stuck” is not only more painful than we, as humans, are set up to bear, it is also going totally against God’s plan for our life. Just as we are to realize and admit we are sinners so we can have salvation, we are to acknowledge our pain so we can come face to face with The Healer. We must go through the hurt, not skirt around it. That means…we have to feel it. It’s easy to panic at this point and to want to take matters into your own hand. Trust me, I know. When I’m hurt, I want to get back at the one who hurt me. But God’s way is redemptive, for you and for the one who has wronged you.
Walk in Faith
Once you give your pain to the Lord, rest assured that He is taking care of it. He is healing your heart. It may not always feel like it, but He is. I like the analogy of a pregnant woman. Although she may not always feel pregnant, she is. Her feeling on the matter doesn’t change the fact. The same is true when it comes to God healing our hurts. At times, we may not feel like the mission is being accomplished. We may flash back to our feelings of hurt, betrayal or anger. That is when faith comes in. If you give your hurt to God, you can walk in faith, knowing that He has it all under control.
Being hurt is a horrible feeling. In fact, for me, I have found it’s not just one feeling, it’s a confusing combination of many emotions like anger, rage and sadness. Getting through the pain to experience God’s healing on the other side isn’t always easy…but it’s always worth it.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NIV)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
As your friend, my mission is to help you rebuild, redefine, and repurpose your experiences in order to move forward. Email me today if you are interested in a phone call so we can talk at info@tschannataylor.com.