Healing (Part Two)

 

As a doctor, I was surprised at how often people with a life-threatening medical problem waited to come see me about it. Sadly, most of the time they waited too long, turning what would have likely been a curable problem into a terminal one. Once in a while I would ask them why they delayed. The usual answer was some form of wishful thinking, hoping that if they ignored the problem, it would go away on its own.

 

It can take courage to start the healing process if we know that it will likely be a painful one. Just hoping that things will get better usually doesn’t cut it. This is true, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual healing or the healing of a relationship.

 

God wants us to come to Him for whatever we need, whether it be healing or anything else. He already knows what we need, so we can simply open our hearts to Him and ask that His will be done in our situation, knowing that He will work out what is best for us. He may use other people as instruments of His healing, so we need to be attentive to where He is leading us.

 

God places a priority on healing relationships. Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift“ (Matthew 5:23-24). Not every relationship can be healed or restored, but God wants us to do our part. We can seek forgiveness or reconciliation, even though the other party may be unwilling. We can forgive someone who has harmed us even if we don’t enter back into a relationship with them.

 

God has promised, “Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God wants us to be able to rise above our problems, even if they don’t go away. He will give us the strength to deal with whatever happens. We may have to wait for Him to work His healing in us, trusting in Him and not giving in to discouragement.

 

Let us come before our loving Father with whatever brokenness that we have, asking for His healing, coming in hope, trusting in Him to restore us and make us whole.

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The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an ebook through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.