Psalms 147:3 NLT
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
Loss often results in broken hearts and wounded spirits. In
the early stages of my grief the pain I felt was so tangible that my heart
seemed to be breaking anew every day. When I would think it was so broken that
there was nothing left to break it would break all over again. It created a
real wound even though not physical there were times when i felt like my heart
would burst out of my chest.
A physical wound depending on how bad it is takes time to
heal especially when it is caused suddenly by an accident. A wound as a result
of a surgery or a medical procedure is carefully cut and stitched thus less
traumatic but wounds caused by accidents are more difficult to nurse and heal
because they just happen without any procedure or preparation. The wounds of
loss are just like that; they are not prepared for and may come in all forms
and sizes causing extreme brokenness and trauma. A physical wound requires
attention and medication, balms, bandages, antibiotics and painkillers are used
over time for healing and so also emotional wounds require time and proper
attention. They must be well taken care of to soothe pain and facilitate healing.
In Jeremiah 8:22 the prophet asks ‘Is there no balm in
Gilead…..why then is the health of the daughter of my people not recovered?
Gilead was a place synonymous with a healing balm and because there was balm in
Gilead it didn’t make sense for the people to remain hurting with unhealed
wounds. Jesus is often referred to as the Balm in Gilead because of the
salvation and healing that He brings.
Today I ask you is there no balm in Gilead? The answer is
most definitely yes, there is! You don’t have to remain wounded and hurting
because Jesus the balm in Gilead is willing to help you. However, you must
remember that healing is a process, keep feeding your heart the word, nurture
the wound in the place of prayer and trust, apply the balm of faith and hope
and with time your wound will be healed. For me what seemed unbearable and impossible
began to heal gradually when I allowed the balm of Gilead take over. God promises
to replace our mourning with dancing and the truth be told only God can do that
besides you can only dance if your wounds are healed. The scars may still be
there but you will be able to enjoy the gift of life in joy! You have the rest
of your life ahead and no matter how much time you have if you remain wounded
and hurting it will be miserable to say the least. God knows this and so He
says ‘I will heal your broken heart and bandage your wounds’. Will you trust
Him enough to do just that?
