Desiring Healing

Peace family, why is it so easy to believe lies sometimes?

Like anyone, I have some areas in my life that need healing, and I am finding a lot of growth through participating in a program called Celebrate Recovery. One of the program’s principles states, “Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.”

This week, I wrestled with that statement. I believed that I mattered to God and that he had the power to restore me, but I feared that God would not heal my wounds, choosing instead to keep me in pain so that I would always be dependent on Him. After all, there are people with physical problems that God doesn’t heal. Even Paul had his “thorn”. Why should God have to heal my fears and emotional scars?

A dear friend I shared with was quick to remind me that 1) Even if, from this day forward, you never change for the better or heal again, God loves you extravagantly now, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you more or less, 2) God doesn’t call you “screwed up,’ he calls you his child, and 3) Whether you are healed on earth or not, you will never be completely whole until you are in Heaven with Christ, when he will fully restore you.

I thought more about it, and remembered that even though sometimes God’s timing and perspective is different from our own, it is not God’s character to give his children snakes and stones when we ask for fish and bread (see Matthew 7:9-11). In the Bible, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The Bible also says, “They cried to the Lord in their troubles, and he rescued them! He led them from their darkness and shadow of death and snapped their chains” (Psalm 107:13-14), and “[The] God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (I Peter 5:10)

How encouraging! I don’t know if you ever struggle with that, but I wanted to share it, just in case it gives you peace. Just a few thoughts from your friendly neighborhood Kat.