I can’t help but to think how helpless I am. Even with all the willpower I muster up I still know that unless the Lord Himself works in my life, my efforts are really, really weak. Yet, the fact that God uses ordinary human beings: jars of clay filled with something we cannot earn- His presence and glory, is a greater thought than how broken I am.
That’s why we have to do something with our healing other than bask in it. I’ve known many who have been so blessed by their experience with God but then see them do very little with it other than flaunt their new found life as a trophy. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t praise and rejoice…but that it’s got to get beyond us and flow to others. Grace found, grace given!
I was recently reading in the gospels and saw how many times Jesus healed the broken and immediately sent them back to their hometown or out to others. The woman at the well, the invalid man on the mat, the guy filled with so many demons that he said his name was “Legion.” All of these were wounded healers, not fully complete, but on the journey toward healing. What I mean is that instead of going with Jesus and becoming part of the entourage, they took what they had been given and brought it to others.
I think all of us are called to be wounded healers. Whether we have had a tough upbringing and God brought us through that…or if we had some physical challenges and God is working through that…or if we are seeing God in the midst of questions and challenges. C.S. Lewis once said, “Think of me as a fellow patient in the same hospital who, having been admitted a little earlier could give some advice.”
A lot of times we think that we just need more of Jesus, and I agree, we do. But, I wonder if our next encounter with Jesus is in our encounters with others who need the Jesus that we have, who need the healing we are experiencing. Could it be that as we confess our life and show our brokenness being healed that we are further healed. Maybe it’s not only our sin that we confess to one another, but our forgiven sin, our healing, our woundedness.
The man set free from demons begged Jesus to go with him, and I can understand why. Who wouldn’t want the nurture of the Savior, the touch of the master again and again. Jesus wouldn’t let him though. He said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” Go…and become a wounded healer.
-Peter
Thank you Pastor, this is the message Ive received over and over again in all different places. In my bible study this week I’ve had the opportunity to share Aaron’s and my story and everything God has taught us thru our journey. It gave hope and peace to the ladies who are in the midst of similar struggles. You see I believe that God places us where we need to be and if it doesn’t follow our plan that’s not a bad thing. Aaron saidit best when he said God needs warrriors everywhere. We would all like our version of the perfect life as we picture it but now I long for God’s version of His life for me as he pictures it. Reaching out to the walking wounded and blessing them as we have been blessed! What a concept, thank you Jesus!!!