Debbie McDaniel Christian Blog and Commentary

Act now to share the love of Christ in the Middle East

For the One Who Feels Wounded: He Heals and Redeems

  • Debbie McDaniel

    Debbie's HeadshotDebbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, and mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's Facebook page for daily encouragement in living…

    More
  • Updated Jul 23, 2015

I enjoyed the peaceful calm of the evening, fixing dinner, and thankful for the whole family to be home for one night with the calendar box completely clear.  No games, practices, or rehearsals scheduled in.  Nowhere that we had to be rushing off to.  Kids all playing outside with neighborhood friends, everyone was happy. 

Until the peace shattered fast with my sweet boy coming in through the front door.  Crying.  Loudly.  In pain, with blood dripping down the leg.  Happy night ended right there with the gaping wound from a bike injury. 

Packed everyone up and headed to the urgent care.  My brave 9 year old was thrilled when they said they could glue it together, no stitches were needed.  But as a nurse, I knew more was still coming.

The wound washing. 

Wow. It was tough.

Over and over they washed out the dirt and grime, until the wound looked clean enough to close.  And as gentle as they tried to be, you can’t hardly get through the cleansing without some pain involved.

He made it through, we both had tears; the doctor sealed up the gap, and bandaged the injury.  My wounded warrior limped to the car, and got a cheeseburger on the way home.

All was well in the world again.

The next morning I read this verse, and the “aha” sank a bit deeper.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Ps. 147:3

Sounds simple enough.  He heals us, bandages our wounds.  But sometimes we forget that before He bandages, He knows He has to "wash the wound." 

Because you can't seal something closed and move forward with stuff still there.  It'll get infected.  It'll fester.  It'll grow.  And that's where the pain is often the fiercest.  When He's moving us forward by peeling back the layers of hurt from the past, and reminding us through each step, "As much as it may hurt now, my dear child, trust Me, I'm bringing healing.  I won’t leave you on your own.  I’m with you every step.  Let's clean out this junk, so you can be made whole, so you can be set free." 

Goodness, I'm thankful, no matter how hard it is at times, that His plans for us are good.  That He desires for us to live free and whole, bandaged wounds, and scars and all.

My son asked me later if he was going to have a scar there on that leg.  Yep, he'll always have it to remember that day.  But it'll be good and healed soon. 

So he can keep running on…free.

Maybe that's you.

And me too.

Those scars we carry, no matter how difficult they came, can remind us He's healed us, or is still at work, faithfully, gently, towards that great goal.  He has purpose in washing those broken areas of life, cleansing us with His forgiveness, washing with His love, releasing us from the shame, grit, and grime we carry from past wounds. His heart for us is freedom, living life abundant and full.

And someday, in His care, all those old wounds will be good and healed.

So we can press forward, strong, secure, better than before.  Resting in the One who holds us close and never lets go.

And we can keep running on...free.

Dear God,

I bring you all the stuff, the pain, the past, the struggles.  And I lay it at your feet.  Thank you for your healing.  Thank you for your grace.  Thank you for your hope.  Thank you that you have set me free.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

“…By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Ps. 147:3

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

"...for I am the Lord who heals you." Ex. 15:26

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion." Ps. 103:2-4

“Behold, I am making all things new…” Revelation 21:5

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Is. 53:4-5

"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Jer. 17:14

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Matt. 9:35

Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's facebook page, DebbieWebbMcDaniel, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. 
Find her also at Twitter.