Devotion: It Takes More Than The Passing Of Time To Heal Our Wounds
Posted Feb 27 2011 10:00am
“[There is] a time to heal.” Ecclesiastes 3:3a
A common saying among many is “time heals all wounds.” I have found this to be untrue. For example, there are people who have lived nearly a century who still exude daily bitterness or loneliness due to a tragedy that happened many years earlier.
Does the passage of time make our pain less intense? For those of us with illness, time may in fact make our physical wounds even deeper and more debilitating. The passing of time can feel like an enemy as our body withers away, and yet also our friend, as we are glad to be given one more day of life.
I like marketer Seth Godin’s recent quote, “You don’t need more time. You just need to decide.” How true! Rather than waiting for time to heal our wounds, we can make choices that will help heal those wounds. Simply giving ourselves grace and the time to grieve can be a decision we make. Trying to find joy in the little things despite our larger larger challenges can be a decision.
If you don”t ever seem to have enough time to get things done, you must choose your top 5 priorities and then go from there. I am in the process of learning practical ways to do this myself. Ironically, learning this, well, it takes time!
Regardless of all our practical decisions, however, it is only through seeking God’s solace, and asking for His forgiveness for our shortcomings, we will ever discover healing for our soul. And even though our bodies waste away with the passing of years, scripture tells us that our spirit still be renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Time can never waste away our soul–unless we allow it to do so. We can choose to use our time to grow closer to Godor allow it to drive us farther away. Just decide.
Prayer: Lord, one of the wounds I saw You heal in me where the passing of time played a role was _____________. But a wound that is still festering that I’ve not fully turned over to You is ____________. Please show me how to give this to You to help me help.
A common saying among many is “time heals all wounds.” I have found this to be untrue. For example, there are people who have lived nearly a century who still exude daily bitterness or loneliness due to a tragedy that happened many years earlier.
Does the passage of time make our pain less intense? For those of us with illness, time may in fact make our physical wounds even deeper and more debilitating. The passing of time can feel like an enemy as our body withers away, and yet also our friend, as we are glad to be given one more day of life.
I like marketer Seth Godin’s recent quote, “You don’t need more time. You just need to decide.” How true! Rather than waiting for time to heal our wounds, we can make choices that will help heal those wounds. Simply giving ourselves grace and the time to grieve can be a decision we make. Trying to find joy in the little things despite our larger larger challenges can be a decision.
If you don”t ever seem to have enough time to get things done, you must choose your top 5 priorities and then go from there. I am in the process of learning practical ways to do this myself. Ironically, learning this, well, it takes time!
Regardless of all our practical decisions, however, it is only through seeking God’s solace, and asking for His forgiveness for our shortcomings, we will ever discover healing for our soul. And even though our bodies waste away with the passing of years, scripture tells us that our spirit still be renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Time can never waste away our soul–unless we allow it to do so. We can choose to use our time to grow closer to Godor allow it to drive us farther away. Just decide.
Prayer: Lord, one of the wounds I saw You heal in me where the passing of time played a role was _____________. But a wound that is still festering that I’ve not fully turned over to You is ____________. Please show me how to give this to You to help me help.
About the Author Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years. She is the author of “Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend” available at http://beyondcasseroles.com .