On the day of his crucifixion Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?!”
Because of Easter Morning we have learned that God did not forsake Jesus. He healed Jesus quite rapidly and miraculously and gave him new life. The nails used in times of crucifixion are not the size of your average household nail – they were very large. I’m certain it would take far more than three days for wounds that large to be healed so that only scars remained. Think about that for a few minutes. Look at your hands and feet, imagine gaping wounds and then watch them disappear and heal to mere scars. He didn’t have surgery, no stitches and yet the wounds were only scars. There was no life left in his body, and the wounds were healed. That’s quite miraculous.
If God can heal physical wounds like that in a short period time, how quickly can your emotional and mental wounds be healed? When is the last time you took those wounds to the Lord in prayer?
It’s difficult for God to heal a wound that you don’t bring to him. As difficult as it is for a parent to remove a sliver from a child’s body part if the child doesn’t show it to their parent. So often in life we hold on to the things that pain us. People more frequently take their hurts to their friends than they do to the Lord. People often go to their friends rather than a counselor or therapist as well. It seems that some people believe it’s better to gossip than to seek healing.
God doesn’t gossip, God listens. If you listen in the stillness of your heart and mind you will find healing and help for your emotions and thoughts.
Counselors don’t gossip either. If you speak honestly to them and if you listen to them, you can receive help and healing from them as well.
Friends, well many of them gossip – sometimes unintentionally, sometimes intentionally and either way it creates more harm than good. Friends take your side and rarely ask you to consider the other side.
God, listens to all sides and so God can heal everyone involved. If, and only if they will come into his presence and pray, showing him what you are willing to let him heal.
God is still listening and healing people today. The word of God tells us that there is an eternal, infinite invitation for everyone who is heavily burdened, tired, concerned, wounded, angry, sad, frustrated to come to him so he can give them rest. When we rest we are quiet and when we are quiet we can listen to God. Bring your troubles to God and let him help you. Trust him to listen, he wants to hear from you.
Here is a prayer you might start with:
God, you are awesome. Thank you for healing Jesus’ wounds. God, I need healing in my life. I am burdened about ______________. I am concerned about _______________. I have been wounded in this way ________________. I am angry about __________________. I am sad about _______________________. And I am frustrated because I _________________________. God, please help me to rest with you so I can hear you. Please begin to heal me and lead me to those who can help me. Thank you for loving me. AMEN