Hurt for Healing

We all experience hurts of various kinds—violence, belittling, betrayal, church hurt, etc.

One of the sad results of experiencing hurt is the damage it does to our sense of self.

Experiencing hurt can twist our understanding of our identity. We allow others or circumstances

to identify us and we languish in despair, frustration, fear, doubt, and despair.

There is a better way. Psalm 107:19-20 says, "Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble; He

saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and provided them escape from their destructions." We can allow God's word to heal us. As Jeremiah 17:14-15 reminds us, scoffers will deny God's presence, "Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise. Behold, they keep saying to me, 'Where is the word of Yahweh? Let it come now!'"

When we don't see God's word and its healing, our hurts multiply. Not only do we experience

the hurt at hand, but we experience the hurt of God not sending His word to heal. Christmas

reminds us of Emmanuel (God with us) and that the word became flesh. Jesus (the word made

flesh) experienced hurt to heal us. He lived a human life, experiencing scorn, sadness, threat,

betrayal, mockery, rejection, and death. He overcame these by His resurrection by placing faith

in Him we can be healed.