Journey of Healing

Our suffering is not meaningless because God has a plan.
- From Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner by Wendy Blight

I cannot tell you how many times, I read that above quote. How many times have you wanted to bury the deep hurts and move on? I know I have, but it doesn't work, does it? You try to plow forward, but that past smacks you in the face every time. That is unless you surrender it to God and let Him carry it for you. 

So that brings up another question, a plan for my suffering? What good could possibly come from this plan? I think healing in our pain comes in layers. How many layers? I'm sure there can be less or more depending on the situation and your ability to hand it over to God, but here are a few I have experienced: forgiveness, acceptance, and sharing.

I truly think it would be hard to forgive yourself or someone else if you didn't accept the situation first. If it's already happened, being in denial will surely not help you. Denial will make your life stagnant, you won't move forward. Accept what has happened, cry if you must, no one said you weren't allowed to cry. Then it's time to forgive. Forgive your offender, so God can work on his/her life. God will deal with that person, but if you keep getting in His way, nothing will ever change in your life and that's what is important. And every time that hurt boils up, ask for help from God, you might have to forgive multiple times, and you most definitely will need God's help to find the peace to get past it.

Next comes "spiritual" sharing which is where someone can gain insight and help from your experience. Whether it's one on one or on a grand scale. Letting someone else know what happened, ultimately is healing. Believe it or not, you are not alone. Someone else has been there and if you are in a good place about it, it's time to share, because you can help others with your revelations from God! And that, my friend, is the most powerful level of healing!

If your revelation hadn't delighted me so,
      I would have given up when the hard times came.
   But I'll never forget the advice you gave me;
      you saved my life with those wise words.
   Save me! I'm all yours.
      I look high and low for your words of wisdom.
   The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me,
      but I'm only concerned with your plans for me.
Psalm 119:92-95 (The Message)

God has a beautiful plan for the suffering and trials you have been through. If you let Him, God will take you on a journey of healing that will take that pain and turn into something more meaniful than you could have ever imagined. As the above verse states, God's revelations will save your life! God bless you in your journey and I'd love to talk to you if you need some encouragement!