Thursday, November 21, 2024
What do you do when you are injured? If it's a cut, you stop the bleeding and apply a band-aid to protect it while it heals.
What about an emotional hurt? The loss of someone dear, or a betrayal by someone you trusted?
We have “band-aids” for those too, don't we? Sometimes we turn to alcohol, gaming, food, or binging Netflix to block the pain. Other times, we deny the pain and build walls to prevent future heartbreak. Instead of healing us, these walls only trap us inside and prevent us from making meaningful connections.
In the movie News of the World, we encounter two characters burdened by loss and sorrow. The Captain mourns the loss of his beloved wife, while Johanna has been deprived of the love and security of two families. Both have put up emotional walls to prevent themselves from getting hurt again. However, God created us to be in relationships with others. In order to build trust, we need to lower our walls, both in connection with other people and with God.
When we bring our hurt and pain to God, he brings healing. But just like our physical hurts, it doesn’t happen overnight, especially if the wound is deep. As we lean into God during times of pain, we can trust him to share our losses and suffer with us during our injustices and abandonment. Jesus endured all of those things too.
Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest (Jesus) of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do…
Jesus knew betrayal, loss, and pain awaited him at the end of his earthly life, but he risked it anyway—because he loves us. His love brought victory for us.
Ultimately, Johanna and the Captain had to take a risk out of love too. Lowering their emotional walls opened them up to hurt again, but it also provided an opportunity to find new love and new hope.
When we open our hearts and trust in Jesus, that new love and new hope can never be taken from us, because his love and care for us is for eternity.
Psalm 17:7-8
7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. 8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Questions:
Where do you go when you are hurt? Can you trust God with your pain?
Next Steps:
Denying our hurts is as silly as ignoring a broken arm. God knows all about it, but it always helps to acknowledge it, say it out loud, and write it down.
Search the Bible for verses that speak to your pain, and ask God to direct you toward finding freedom from it.
This will remind you that God understands your pain and help you determine your next steps. You may need to discuss the hurt you’ve experienced with someone, or even with the person who caused it. Sometimes, it’s even necessary to take responsibility for your part in the situation.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I rest in the shadow of your wings. It is always there that I find shelter and protection. Because I love you, you will deliver me. You protect me because I know your name. When I call to you, you will answer me, and you will be with me in times of trouble. You will rescue me and honor me. You will satisfy me with long life. You will show me your salvation (Psalm 91). I trust you with my whole heart, knowing it is secure in your hands. In your beautiful name I pray, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
This post was written by Lauri White, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.