Healing The Wounds

Ok, the Mayne Man is at it again. This time, we're going to discuss wounds. I don't know if you've ever had stitches or suffered physical pain that may have either paralyzed you in some way (or may have required a cast). I never experienced the latter; however, I have had stitches. Back in the summer of 1984 (I was 10 years old), I was riding my bicycle down a hill (which was slightly behind where we lived). Of course, I fell and let's just say there was a gash in my left knee that required 6 stitches. To this day, that scar is still there. That was almost 32 years ago.

Now, why did I bring that up? Many of us have been wounded in some shape or fashion. The pain of abandonment, rejection, bullying, neglect, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic abuse, infidelity, and many other things that I didn't mention will cause a wound and create an offense. You will probably have scars (and yes, I have scars). Let me stay on track. You see, wounds have to have the right conditions to heal. 

Can I just be real for a minute? If wounds don't have the right conditions, you will more and likely set yourself up for a life of bitterness, and agonizing pain because of the wound/offense. And if the wound doesn't heal, it will create some type of collateral damage to your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health (where it hurts you and others around you). Acting like the wound isn't there via denial will leave a greater scar than you imagined. In some cultures, the concept of "we don't talk about these things," especially when the wound is hinged on what I mentioned in the above paragraph, will scar you internally and the minute someone does or says something that triggers the horrific experience you suffered, get prepared for an explosion. I am a living witness to that! 

How many of you have looked at your scar that hasn't healed and then start to feel the anger and pain of the person that either triggered it by something they said and did or the actual person that caused the scar? How many of you have said, "I'm all good," as it relates to your wound, but you know that you are a ticking time bomb when you experience a trigger? Some of us can put on a good facade to the world (and probably to God too), but are so broken and scarred to the point we hate ourselves and the world. 

You know you are not healed when you are constantly mulling over either what you did wrong or what others did to you. And for many sexual abuse survivors, the person who wronged them might have passed away, but still mulling over it. Even worse, wishing something destructive would happen to them. 

So, what are the right conditions to healing the wounds (and getting to he path of wholeness)?

1. Like I had to with my stitches, keep them in my knee for 10 days. That's symbolic to not rushing the healing process (but at the same time, not denying that you need the healing process). 

2. Continuing from #1, part of the healing process will probably require professional help (especially if it's a pain I mentioned earlier in this post), but most importantly God. A lot of people tend to overlook this step, and this is no different than having a cast on. You know that you need to wear it for 8 weeks, but your pride is saying, "I don't want to wear it, I'm cutting it off after one week!"

Healing is no different than medicine. How many of you remember Bactine? I don't know about you, but when I sprayed it on me, that stung. But they say it's to kill the germs so it can heal. That's what real healing can be like, and because of it, some don't even bother. 

I pray this has touched you and pushing you further along in your healing process on the path to wholeness (as I am also on this journey as well).

Blessings,

The Mayne Man

Don't They Deserve To Be Made Whole?

Good afternoon everyone. I pray that wherever you are as you're reading this that you are prospering even as you soul is prospering. 

It appears lately that I have been talking about healing and/or being made whole on my blog. I pray the posts from that past few days encourage you and that they are bringing peace to your spirit as they are bringing peace to mine. Using the foundational text for this post (John 5:1-9), it's the story of the lame man being healed and made whole by Jesus.

I believe that there are many people who deserve to be made whole. Who are these people? I'll answer with a series of question. Would you say that a child who was sexually abused deserves to be made whole? Would you say that the man or woman who has struggled with anxiety all of their life deserves to be made whole? Would you say that the woman who was raped deserves to be made whole? Would you say that the child who was neglected, rejected and/or abandoned deserves to be made whole? Would you say that a family who lost a loved one deserves to be made whole? Would you say that a woman who suffered under the hand of domestic violence deserves to be made whole? Would you say if a person endured deception and manipulation in a previous marriage, they deserve to be made whole? What about those who have endured long-term illnesses and have the desire to live, don't they deserve to be made whole? And what about those who know the song, I Surrender All, but because of the hurt and pain they've endured, they refuse to surrender all and make feeble attempts to go it alone? Don't they deserve to be made whole? 

The answer to every question is simply, YES! YES! YES! I'm sure I didn't hit every category, but I believe you get the point. Everybody deserves to be made whole. Some might ask the question, what's the difference between being healed and being made whole? Great question: I'll use Luke 17:11-19 to capture the difference.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you whole."

If you noticed, all of them were healed on the way to the priest, so it was just from that one thing. But the one who came back and gave thanks to God, his faith made him whole (complete restoration of his health). Do you need a restoration in your life? Believe God but at the same time, don't allow your faith to grow weary - that's what the enemy is after, your faith. 

In closing, in order to be made whole, you have to humble yourself and surrender everything to Him (and yes, this requires faith). So, I ask you, do you trust God with everything that concerns you? Like the lame man in John 5, he trusted that God could make him whole. You deserve to be made whole.

Blessings,

The Mayne Man