We describe ourselves as wounded when someone says or does something deeply hurtful. The first or most prominent of these events is called the root cause. Healing occurs when the root cause or primary wound is resolved. When we experience a painful or broken relationship, we are forced to acknowledge our wound. Woundedness is simply another word for brokenness. Our response is spiritual; we want to welcome Jesus and his spirit into our woundedness.

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Lies About Brokenness    

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The reality is that with help, we can come to terms with past events. Childhood memories are usually much harder to resolve than adult experiences. Our reaction to damage is often to: 

 

1. Try to avoid pain 

“Digging up the past is just too hard. I don’t want to go there because it’s too vulnerable and scary.”

 

2. Prevent ourselves from remembering certain things

I’ve looked at my past experiences, wounds, and painful events. It’s just not worth going there. They happened, and I need to move on with my life. The past is the past.”

 

3. Question God or blame him

“I don’t believe God is interested in my wounds and issues. If he is, why does he allow bad things to happen to me? Things that I can’t control.”

 

4. Live as pessimistic believers 

“I can never really change. I’ve tried many things, but nothing has really worked.”

 

5. Say “That’s just the way things are”

“As long as I can remember, I’ve always struggled with relational and sexual stuff. In fact, I was probably born this way.”​​

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Truths About Wholeness

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Healing from these wounds is possible by experiencing Jesus’ love. Examples of how Jesus treated people can be found in the gospels. 

 

Jesus responds by reaching out his hand and touching the leper. Such a gesture was considered taboo because not only was the man sick, but he was also unclean. A leper was shut out and separated from the community.

 

Notice how Jesus is not satisfied with the bleeding woman just slipping away. He wants to find her. He wants to welcome her. Then notice her response -falling at his feet and telling him the whole truth. She bares her soul before him. 

 

Jesus wants to know if the blind men truly believe in His power to heal. He wants faith to rise in their hearts -because to Jesus, faith matters. Not wealth, reputation, or position. Jesus asks about their faith. With their confession of faith, Jesus restores their sight.​

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Coming to Jesus

                

These stories about Jesus reveal his passionate love for us. From these examples, we can learn ways to move closer to God. This is what we mean by welcoming Jesus into our brokenness.

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We must decide to explore our wounds in Jesus’ presence. We do this in prayer with a trusted friend or a counsellor. This journey of exploring our wounds is not one we want to face. We must come to Jesus with our whole heart. We have little choice but to walk through our past, to move closer to Him and receive what He wants to give.

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Choose to practice His presence. This looks different for everyone. For some, it’s a regular, ongoing conversation with Jesus throughout the day that helps us engage with Him and sense His leading. For others, it involves dedicated times of prayer and reflection, or meaningful prayer and conversation with trusted friends.

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Imagining or symbolising the cross is a powerful tool. We can mingle our pain with Jesus’ historic pain. The cross is the place to express pain, deep anger, frustration, and bitterness. We admit our feelings to Jesus; He frees us from descending into the wounded self from which we can project our pain onto others. 

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Expect to receive God’s goodness. As we continually choose Him, He breaks the grip of our brokenness, wounds, and pain, enabling us to anticipate renewal and hope. This may seem out of reach right now. Yet it’s exactly what He grants us as we cooperate with Him and release our agendas to Him.​

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The Truth is in Jesus

 

In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares His identity when He says,“I am the bread of life”,“I am the light of the world”, “I am the good shepherd”, and “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. Essentially, He’s saying, “I’m the one who can give you the nourishment you crave; no one else can feed you. I’m the one who can lead you through dark places; I know the way, so trust me. I’m the one who cares for you and protects you. I’m the one who provides all that you need for the journey.”​

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Postscript            

 

In gracious ways, Jesus calls us to come with all our questions, concerns, doubts, and fears, our personal baggage, false beliefs, and bad attitudes. He wants us to come with all we are; He alone understands the half-truths we hold on to. He alone knows how to touch our broken hearts. He alone can bring the inner change we desire.

 

The questions for us are simple but challenging: Will we come? Will we allow Jesus in? He waits for our answer.

 

Andy Chambers

Living Waters Chairman