hope in healing (in God's perfect timing)

It is amazing how one can be hurt so deeply in the moment, and be healed so fully in time.  Healings are miracles, no matter how small, unordinary, or common they may seem.  A shattered heart that broke into a million pieces can be gently sculpted back together by God's gentle and gracious hands.

I've only been in one relationship, but when it was over, my heart was broken, my emotions overwhelmingly torn, and my mind depressed.  I thought over and over, "What could I have done to keep this relationship together?"  I felt guilty for allowing it to fall apart.  It's been over two and half years.  I still have crystal clear memories of happiness within the relationship but I am grateful for having moved on.  I prayed time after time that God would heal my heart, and take away the memories, the thoughts, the good I found in what I went through.  I thought if I only focussed on the bad, then I would be happy I was no longer in the relationship.  But, God performed a miracle.  He allowed me to keep the good memories, while being able to put the past behind me and focus on the here and now, and look forward to a wonderful future.

Jeremiah 29 11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Through a plethora of emotions, I felt anger, sadness, bitterness, confusion, guilt, depression, among many other negative and despairing emotions when our relationship ended.  Through out the last two and a half years, I have been able to process, a bit through writing, and a lot through song writing and poetry, but mostly through talking with God, praying and listening to God.  He prepared me for new things.  In fact, my ex-boyfriend had always been close to this one girl, and one day a couple years after the break up, I "thought to myself" (these thoughts from God) that I would be okay if this guy I dated ended up dating this girl that he was close with.  The thoughts made no logical sense.  Perhaps, I thought it would be easier knowing the girl he was dating, verses some mystery person I didn't know.  All that to say, one week later, I found out they were dating.  God fully prepared my heart for what was about to happen.  It was amazing.

Forgiveness is a final step to healing.  Truly forgiving someone and letting go of all the pent up bitter, anger, or whatever emotions may be built into the situation, is the key to healing.  Forgive yourself first.  Forgive others.  This does not mean you need to forget.  But, Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive.

Think about a broken arm or leg.  A wound like this is painful, needs to be taken care of by a doctor, slowly recovers, scars, and heals.  Just like the this, the heart is in pain when it breaks, it needs to be taken care of by God, the ultimate doctor and healer, takes time and a process to recover, has visible signs of what happened, and then God performs a miracle and heals you.

If you are still in the painful process of healing, there is hope.  This hope comes from God and comes from time.  God's timing.  So difficult to understand.  In fact, we cannot understand it.  We put our trust and hope in the Lord.  We put our burdens and broken hearts in His hands and he promises to carry and to mend them.  When in the process, it may seem hopeless, but remember the Good News of Jesus.  He will heal you.  Believe in Him.  Trust in Him.  Like the song says, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.... On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

There are also miraculous healings like those in the Bible.  A couple that pop to mind are Jesus healing the blind man, and the leper.  These healings still happen today.  Many believe that those healings only happened in Jesus' day.  Not so.  I have friends who have witnessed miracles first hand.  Their stories are breathtakingly beautiful.

Have you ever hurt so deeply you thought nothing could cure you?

If you ended up healing, what helped you through the process and to recover?

What miracles have you experienced in your life or the lives of others?

What do you still need forgiveness for?

Who do you still need to forgive?

What/who do you place your hope in?

I place mine in Jesus Christ.