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“O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” Psalm 30:2 (ESV)

Ever felt an excruciating pain running down the back of your leg? Wish I could say I haven’t – but last year sciatic nerve issues became my worst friend. Without a warning it greeted me right after Christmas and stayed past its welcome. When the pain finally subsided months later, I found my muscles weak, strained and stiff. Had no idea, I’d feel this way – after all, I hit the gym five days out of the week. My usual energetic, flexible self vanished quickly.

Doctor’s remedy was simple, gentle stretching of those muscles. Now I have to admit stretching what was still tender and hurting didn’t sound like fun to me. In fact, I avoided the doctor’s orders because the very thought of aggravating my sciatic loomed large in my mind. Boy, did I regret that decision! Fast forward to 2019 and I’m doing the tough work of stretching, strengthening and recovering what sciatic stole from me. Or did it? What I missed because I feared the pain or reoccurrence was my fault alone.

Lesson I’m learning – whether it’s physical, emotional or spiritual pain – the effects and remedy are similar. And the reasons we avoid doing the hard work are the same. Don’t know about you, but wounds of our soul leave us fragile, vulnerable and weak. We’d much rather ignore or dismiss what we fear confronting. Never serves us well to forego healing even if the pain subsides a little. What we fail to deal with will raise its ugly head eventually. We can only stuff it down for so long. And just like my muscles became stiff, strained and weak our souls will become hardened, inflexible and weak.

The remedy – well it’s quite simple, straightforward – just not easy. Pursue healing at all costs. Perhaps it’s sessions with a godly counselor. No shame there. We’ve all needed help. Maybe it’s time to clear our schedule so our bodies and minds can recover, rest and reflect. No shame there. We all need stillness. Could be we need to fall down on our knees and admit how much we need our sweet Jesus to get us thru. Definitely no shame there. He is waiting for us to come with open arms. What feels like it will break us can be radically redeemed if we choose to face it, deal with it and run to our gracious Healer.

“Father, You are our Healer – the only One who can restore, rebuild and redeem the wounds of our soul. Help us to not miss the lesson – we can do the tough work if we rely on You to strengthen us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life