Hope for the Wounded
Have you ever scraped yourself and looked down only to be surprised by the amount of blood? The injury may not have been painful at the time, but suddenly you're looking at a wound that needs a bandage fast.
The goals of any first aid effort include protecting a person's life and giving the wound the best chance of healing quickly. But every wound heals differently. The person's age and health as well as the size and location of the cut and its susceptibility to infection all affect a wound's ability to heal. Plus, some people simply heal faster than others.
While wounds on our physical bodies may take a while to heal and may leave scars, the wounds on the inside-those unseen-often are the hardest to overcome and heal. The physical wounds can be alleviated with modern first aid practices or a trip to the doctor, but the wounds on the inside, whether emotional or relational, can be more complicated to heal.
All of s have been through hard times in life. Maybe we had to make a tough choice and we felt like something inside of us died. Maybe someone said something to us that cut us to the core. Maybe we experienced a loss or moment of pain that left us torn apart. We live in a fallen and imperfect world, and sometimes life throws painful punches.
But the good news is that God draws near to those who are wounded and brokenhearted. God not only remains with us but longs to renew us. God's first aid kit looks a bit different than a medical first aid kit. Instead of using gauze and antiseptic, God draws near us with His presence. Through the Holy Spirit, God comforts and encourages and heals us in areas of our souls and spirits that medical science can't explain.
Just as physical wounds heal in different ways over different time frames, God's healing touch in each of our lives differs as well. For some, God's healing may come in a single moment, but for others it may come over a span of months or years. God is the Great Physician of our souls and we can entrust ourselves wholly to Him.
1) Which do you tend to heal from more quickly, the scrapes and bruises of life that people can see or the scrapes and bruises of life that people can't see?
Throughout His life and ministry on earth, Jesus healed many people. The eyes of the blind were opened. The deaf heard. The crippled walked. Jesus healed not only people's physical bodies, He brought healing to their hearts and minds. That's important to remember because God doesn't limit healing to our physical bodies, but He also wants to heal our hearts and emotions.
The theme of Psalm 147 is a prayer to restore Israel's main city: Jerusalem. The psalmist began by praising God for His wondrous works of healing and restoration. God was physically restoring the city, but He was also healing the people emotionally and spiritually.
2) Read Psalm 147. When in your life have you experienced God as Healer of your emotions? (vs. 3)
In the Old Testament, one of God's names is Jehovah Rapha, which translates to "The Lord Who Heals." In Exodus 15, God led His people, the Israelites, into the wilderness. As they desperately searched for water in the desert, God miraculously provided. In the wondrous provision, God promised not to plague the Israelites like He did the Egyptians in Exodus 7:14-11:10.
3) Read Exodus 15:22-26. What steps did the Israelites have to take to experience God as their Healer?
4) Look up the following passages. According to each passage, what are some examples of the healing available to us from God?
Psalm 41:4
Jeremiah 3:22
Luke 4:18
5) Which of the areas listed above do you most long for God to heal in your life?
God knows that we need healing in many different areas of our lives. One of the great moments we have to look forward to is described in Revelation. In the new heaven, God will have trees specifically designed for spiritual healing.
6) Read Revelation 22:1-5. What comfort do you find knowing this is a snapshot of heaven?
The prophetic book of Ezekiel describes God's desire to restore Israel during their exile in Babylon. But a new king wasn't going to do the trick. Instead, Israel was in need of a full, head-to-toe makeover. God promised to heal them from the inside out.
7) Read Ezekiel 36:26. What new work does God long to do within us according to this passage?
8) Spend some time praying and asking God for His healing in the areas of your life that need healing.
Digging Deeper:
Read Mark 6:30-32. Jesus instructed His disciples to come away from the hustle and bustle of life and ministry in order to be restored. What role does rest have in your own ability to experience God's restoration and healing? In your life, do you tend to heal more quickly when you stay busy or take time to rest? In what area of your life do you sense God nudging you to embrace rest more?
Bonus Activity:
Reflecting on this lesson, make a list of people you know who need healing, whether physical, emotional, or relational. Each day this week, pray for the people on your list and consider dropping them a note of encouragements in the mail.
Let's heal, together.
-Pastor Tiffany
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