Wounds
Some of the
deepest wounds
we encounter
are not
from our enemies.
We can handle
“enemy” blows
because we are
on our guard,
prepared,
expecting nothing less.
After all,
they ARE our enemies.
The wounds
our enemies inflict
might slow us down,
might set us back,
might mess up our plans
and mess with our emotions for a while,
but the emotional depth of the wound,
superficial at best.
Sadly,
the deepest wounds
we encounter
come from the people who
and the places where
we expect it least.
Those who share the same color jersey.
Those who share the same company name on their paycheck.
Those who share the same pew.
Those who share the same address.
Those who share the same name and blood.
Wounds from those
who supposedly
have our back
leave us
flat on our back.
Wounds from those
who are supposedly
our “support system”
reach all the way
to the marrow
of our bones.
The recovery time
and healing
for these kind of wounds –
days, months, often years long.
In our hurt
and humanness,
we wonder why God
would let this happen?
After all,
if He would have chosen to
He could have chosen
for things
to work out differently.
Which in turn,
if we allow the Spirit
to guide
our thoughts,
our recovery,
our healing,
will inevitably bring us
to Jesus,
to His suffering,
to the cross of Calvary,
and to this:
Why would God let this happen?
After all,
if He would have chosen to
He could have chosen
for things
to work out differently.
Jesus came to save His people.
Every single person who ever lived
was created in His image.
We aren’t the “enemy”,
we are family.
And yet,
from His own people,
He received
the deepest wound.
Betrayed by a kiss
from Judas
who was in
His “inner circle”.
Pierced in
the hands and feet
by you and me and
our sinful nature,
our selfish choices,
our pride and self-reliance.
And yet,
through this “deadly blow”
Satan was defeated
and God was glorified.
And, you and me –
we were redeemed.
Because what we often
fail to remember
and what we are quick
to forget is this:
Jesus is the redeemer.
No matter the wound,
our God can heal it,
and not only that,
our God can redeem it.
No matter the wound,
our God can use it
for a Kingdom purpose.
We can focus on
what’s been done to us –
replaying it
over and over and over again
in our thoughts,
in our words,
in our actions
or,
we can focus on
what God will do for us
and for others
through it,
in spite of it,
because of it.
So often,
when we have been
wounded so deeply,
we yearn for
justice to be done,
for revenge to have its way.
But honestly,
when we fully grasp
the redeeming power
of redemption,
why would we want
to settle
for anything less
than God
using our “worst wound”
for His absolute best?
Our healing
is not found in
praying for God
to “payback”
those who have
hurt us.
Our healing
is found in
releasing our
wound to God –
through the power of forgiveness –
and praying for God
to redeem it,
and pay it forward
in ways that only He,
our precious Redeemer,
can and will.
Give your wound to God.
Let Him redeem it.~
~Stacy
