Hope for the Unseen Hurt

In Where Healing Starts, Joanna struggles to accept the grace God wants to show her. Most of us have felt the same way at some point in our life. I’m not worthy. The hurt is so deep. How can I find healing? It’s hard to hope. Today, I invited Nancy Kay Grace, author of The Grace Impact, to encourage us on the journey to find God’s grace.

Have you ever had an annoying injury that took a long time to heal?

Recently, my husband and I got adventurous and went zip-lining, breaking away from our usual pace of life. This activity pushes me out of my comfort zone as I fling my body on cable high through trees.

My recent experience was not as pleasurable as previous times.

Midway through the second zip, I turned around on the cable, approaching the landing platform backwards. Unable to see where I was going, I couldn’t judge my speed or distance to stop. Smack! I hit the platform with the back of my left calf. Pain radiated down my leg. I regained my balance on the platform, but wondered how seriously I had injured my leg. A few moments later, Rick landed after his zip, with a successful smile on his face. He enjoyed a smooth ride and didn’t see my ungraceful landing.

That night I iced and elevated my leg to alleviate pain and bring a little healing.

Although I didn’t walk with a limp, a deep purple bruise surfaced on my calf during the next days and weeks.

Today, almost two months later, the area on the back of my leg is still painful to the touch, although no discoloration is visible. I know my leg continues to heal.

Often we need healing from unseen emotional or spiritual wounds, not just from a minor physical injury. Unhealthy family patterns, such as blaming or shaming, can lead to lifelong emotional pain. If not dealt with, a person can go through life with damaged self-esteem that can affect other relationships. Harsh disagreements can harm spiritual growth if the root of bitterness is not addressed. Hurtful words damage relationships.

Emotional healing comes with grace, forgiveness and time. When our love falls short, we can turn to God’s love that fills in our gaps. Forgiveness can transform a difficult relationship into a friendship, if we let the grace of God flow.

My bruised calf will heal, although it is taking much longer than I anticipated.

The broken heart needs to embrace God’s grace to become whole again. When the hurt of a believer’s heart intersects with the ultimate Healer, the burden is calmed.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. “ Psalm 34:18

An unseen scar may remain, but it will be the reminder of the work of God. If you need healing from an unseen wound, lift it to the Lord in prayer. Talk to a trusted friend. In His time and through His grace, the Lord heals the brokenhearted. There is hope for the unseen hurt.

~ ~ ~

Nancy Kay Grace is a speaker and award-winning author of The Grace Impact, a devotional on God’s grace. She blogs about faith and grace on her website. When she’s not blogging or creating her internet radio show, Nancy enjoys playing and teaching piano, hiking, and travel adventures with her husband Rick. She lives in Northwest Arkansas. Most of all, Nancy loves family time and hugging her five grandchildren.