Healing: Understanding that God’s Goodness May Be Uncomfortable

God promises healing of our wounds, but this can be an uncomfortable process. Understanding this, we can trust His goodness and accept His healing.

“Mommy, why do my eye lashes feel weird?” A quick look at my preschooler’s eyes, and I knew we woke up to pink eye. Ugh. Pink eye is just gross, but really, it’s not a big deal. We went to the doctor, who took one look at him and declared it was, in fact, pink eye, and left for the pharmacy to get some antibiotic eye drops. One week later all is well, and the pink eye is gone.

You may be wondering how in the world this little family adventure of mine has any connection to God, but God oftentimes uses my children to teach me about Himself. This small hiccup with pink eye was no exception. I’m sharing today what God taught me about Himself as I cared for my little guy.

Healing: Uncomfortable

To treat the infection, I gave my son one drop of medicine in each eye three times daily for a week. At first, eye drops excited him. It was the novelty of it really. His older brother used eye drops in treatment, and little brother thought “cool, now I can have eye drops too.” Then the first drop hit his eye. It was not a pretty sight. He wailed. He realized eye drops are just not fun. The first few days, it was a tremendous battle to get those tiny drops in his eyes, but I had to win this battle.

Though he hated the drops, they were necessary to heal his eyes. There I was, three times a day, making my own child cry. I didn’t like it any more than he did, but I understood that this unpleasant week was for his good in the end. My actions towards him that caused his discomfort and crying came from a place of care. The deep, unwavering love I have for my child meant doing what was best for him even when he didn’t like it.

I am also healing from deep wounds at the moment. They are not visible like my son’s pink eye. There is no medication to make it better in a week, but there is healing. God is the Great Physician. My wounds, the deep wounds of childhood trauma, can heal. He promises.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18, ESV

Yet He isn’t only near to the brokenhearted but…

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3, ESV

Healing: Understanding

Many times in this healing process, which is not a fast one, I find myself facing a next step that I don’t like. Like the eye drops, it’s not fun. There is discomfort. It is hard, and I don’t want to go through it. Just like my child battled against me as I gave him healing medication, I battle against God as He leads me along this healing journey.

I feel the brokenness. I gush from the wounds. Yet the binding and the healing doesn’t feel good, and often it feels worse before any semblance of relief hits. I fight against my Father who only wants what is best for me, even when I don’t like it.

I was reminded, as I saw myself in my son, just how good my Father is.

Withholding eye drops from my son because he didn’t want them would not have made me a good mother, though he would have been quite happy. That would have caused him more harm in the long term as the infection would continue to get worse. Providing him with care no matter how much he disliked it was the loving action to take. I was a good mother to him because I did what was best for him.

My good parenting moments are such a small, imperfect reflection of the goodness of my Father. As I considered the good I was doing despite my child’s protests, I found my own heart softened to the next steps in healing that my Father was lovingly taking me on. I did not like what lay ahead, but I found comfort knowing I have a good Father who is binding my wounds and healing my heart even when it hurts, or makes me uncomfortable. Though I protest, He is still good in continuing to provide what I need as He heals me. He is a good Father, and He always does what is best for me, His beloved daughter.

Healing: Acceptance

Sometimes the places we need healing require a treatment we would rather not endure, and we protest. Being honest, we all battle against our Father sometimes, don’t we?

What places in your heart is God bringing about healing, yet you still find yourself fighting against Him?

Sister, let me remind you how good your Father is. That healing and binding that is causing your discomfort and maybe is downright painful…He is only doing it because He is good, and He knows what is best for you.

If you have found this inspiring, share the encouragement…

I fight against my Father who only wants what is best for me, even when I don’t like it. Click To Tweet

You may feel broken, but God loves you, and pursues you, and will redeem you and your story!