Day 5: Healing from Past Hurts

"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds."

– Psalm 147:3(NIV)

Reflection

I’ve always had a soft spot for medical TV shows. My daughter once asked, “If you love them so much, why aren’t you a doctor?” I smiled and said, “I admire doctors, but not enough to be one.” What draws me in is how they almost always find solutions - diagnosing complex conditions, discovering treatments, and bringing healing. Even when they do lose a patient, it’s often to emphasize that not all battles are won, reminding us of the fragility of life.

What I love most is their care, compassion, and relentless pursuit of healing. They use their skills to mend physical wounds, but God? He does so much more. God doesn’t just patch us up; He restores us. He binds our wounds completely and heals not just our bodies but the deepest hurts in our hearts, reaching into the deepest corners where human medicine can't reach.

Psalm 147:3 is part of a passage that celebrates God’s power and understanding. It reminds us that He gathers what is broken and restores what is lost. He sees your pain, feels it with you, and longs to make you whole.

Yet, isn’t it true that we often try to manage our pain alone? Think about how we treat physical discomfort. A headache? We grab painkillers. A lingering pain? Maybe some home remedies. We put off seeing a doctor until the pain becomes unbearable. We do the same with emotional wounds. Instead of confronting the hurt, we distract ourselves - work, binge-watching, food, partying, shopping. But just like untreated physical pain, unresolved emotional pain festers.

God is saying to you today, “You don’t have to do this on your own. Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I’ve had conversations with friends about why we hesitate to bring our burdens to God. Maybe we feel we need to have it all together. Maybe, we think God doesn’t want to hear about our heartbreaks. But the truth is, God cares deeply about your pain. He made you in His image, and He feels emotions too - grief, anger, heartbreak, and love.

Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses."

Letting God Handle Your Hurt

Start by telling God how you feel. Be vulnerable, as you would with a trusted friend. Talking to Him about your pain is the first step to healing. Isaiah 61:1 declares, “He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted.” God is ready to listen, to comfort, and to heal—if you let Him.

Next, let God lead your healing. He knows your heart better than you do. He knows what pace you need to recover, your thresholds, and your limits. Trust Him to guide you to the right people, resources, and relationships. From personal experience, I’ve seen how God orchestrates even the smallest details to bring healing and restoration.

Set Yourself Free

Sometimes, we carry the burden of trying to rationalize the hurt. We wonder, Was it my fault? Could I have done something differently? I’ve been there - blaming myself, thinking I was the reason things fell apart. But as one of my mentors says, “People people.” Sometimes their actions have nothing to do with us and everything to do with their own struggles. Release yourself from the need to understand or justify their behaviour.

Forgive and Reclaim Your Freedom

Forgiveness is a crucial step in healing. It doesn’t mean excusing the hurt or allowing the person back into your life. Forgiveness is about freeing yourself from the weight of anger, disappointment, and mistrust. It’s choosing to no longer let the pain have power over you. It’s a declaration of dominion over what once held you back.

And don’t forget to forgive yourself too. We all make mistakes, but God’s grace is sufficient. Ask Him to help you on the journey of forgiveness and watch as the shackles of hurt begin to break free.

Healing isn’t just about moving on; it’s about surrendering your pain to the One who can truly make you whole. Trust Him to do what only He can do.

Write a prayer asking God to heal a specific area of your life. Be honest and open. Then take a moment to thank Him for beginning the process of restoration.

Father, thank You for being the Healer of my heart. Today, I surrender my pain to You—the hurts I’ve carried and the wounds I’ve hidden. Help me to trust You with my healing. Teach me to forgive, to let go of the need for answers, and to embrace the peace that only You can give. Thank You for loving me deeply and walking this journey with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Action Steps

Prayer