In the time since my foot surgery, I’ve realized the surgery was the easy part. The healing process is much harder. I have mobility limitations and directives to aid healing, but as is often the case when you suddenly can’t do certain things, all you want is to do those very activities.
Healing is not just physical. Many people have other areas in their lives that have never healed. Perhaps they have scabs on their wounds, but occasionally, an event or harsh words rip off those scabs, bringing renewed pain.
Following are some elements of healing:
Healing Takes Time
Healing has its own schedule, one that can’t be rushed. We can enhance physical healing with good nutrition and adhering to doctor’s orders, but we are powerless in determining the time frame our bodies require.
Like physical healing, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing require time. Our part is honest self-examination. In what ways are we hindering healing with attitudes and actions, with jealousy, grudges, and unforgiveness? What needs to change in our minds and hearts to aid healing?
Healing Requires Patience
Most of us struggle with patience. We live in a hurry-up world and resting, waiting, and inactivity make us feel useless and like we need to do something to speed things along. But healing requires patience and the ability to see beyond right now.
Healing Hurts
Immediately following my foot surgery, I was blessed to have less pain than I imagined or was predicted. As long as my foot was elevated, the pain was totally manageable. But within a few days, I was up walking around in the boot and not elevating my foot as much as I should. Later, I paid for my over-zealousness with cramping and muscle spasms.
Pain is inherent in healing. Whether physical, spiritual, or emotional, we experience twitches, shooting pains, a step forward followed by two steps back, and times of discouragement and frustration. Pain diminishes over time, but pain is part of the healing process.
Healing is a Process
Sometimes we forget healing is gradual, continual, and slow. While we heal, we are moving from one point to another, a steady progression. As with any journey, while healing, we may encounter slow-downs, detours, and stops, but eventually, we reach our destination.
Healing Leads to Restoration
Years ago, I met a woman who had lots of challenges. She had medical, emotional, relational, and other issues. She latched on to me, spilled her woes on me, and demanded lots of attention. Eventually, I found out I was not the only person she was milking for support, emotional and financial.
One evening, after a church service, I confronted her, and asked, “Do you really want to be healed?”
“Of course, I do!” she said.
“I really don’t think you do because you aren’t aiding the process. You want people to listen to you, feel sorry for you, and support you, but you don’t want to be healed.”
Was I too blunt? Too confrontational? I don’t think so.
Many people don’t want to be healed to the point of restoration. They aren’t willing to do what is necessary to move beyond the past, forgive, set a new emotional and mental course, and regain forward motion. Instead, they blame others and wallow in past hurts that they’ve allowed to color and suspend their lives.
The end point, the goal, of healing is restoration. With God’s help, and your determination, you will experience healing.
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security” (Jeremiah 33:6 NIV).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, speaker, and freelance editor. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotionals published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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