[Sermon Series: "That's What I Thought" - Part 5]
When God Comes To Heal What Hurts
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
It was such a small moment - insignificant to most. A little girl was spinning and dancing while her dad smiled and clapped. But as I watched her, a sob caught in my throat.
She was unapologetically herself and so free in her father’s delight. And something about it broke me.
In that moment, I realized I had once been that little girl. But somewhere along the way, I replaced freedom with striving and took on shame in the areas that once brought me joy.
I was surprised by the sadness that hit me, but I knew deep down this wasn’t just a tearful moment. It was an invitation to heal something that had long been hurting.
Maybe you’ve been carrying your own quiet grief.
You’ve learned to ignore it - all those times you believed something was wrong with you when you were left out. Or the pain of carrying a shattered heart that has left you broken. Or perhaps you’re weary of trying to be so faithful yet still feeling so invisible.
Then comes a moment - or a whole season - when you can no longer ignore what you’ve been tolerating. The pain surfaces in a new way. And suddenly, you sense God inviting you to look at it. But how do you even begin?
Oh, friend. You’re not alone. What I’m learning is that when the Lord asks us to step into a season of healing, it’s never to shame us but to restore us.
Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” It’s His job to heal. Ours is simply to come. God is committed to restoring every part of us, even the quiet, hurting places in our souls. He is asking us to trust Him with our broken hearts and our wounds.
Healing isn’t always a one-time prayer or a single moment. It’s a continual walk with God, a process of bringing Him what hurts, letting Him replace lies with truth, and surrendering to His timeline, not ours.
Watching that little girl delight in who she was, fully at home in her father’s love, opened a window to the healing God was inviting me to experience. It moved me deeply because in that moment, I remembered that’s still how He sees me. And I realized just how much I missed that version of myself.
Friend, you and I are like that little girl. And our heavenly Father wants us to live in that same freedom.
God is not asking for us to give a better performance but for us to come into His presence. He invites us to walk bravely with Him and let Him do the healing, one step at a time.
Lord, I bring You the pain I’ve learned to tolerate, and I ask You to heal me. I have been hurting for a long time, but I know Your heart for me is always good. Help me take the next step toward You. You are my good Father, and I will keep running into Your safe arms. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Ashley Morgan Jackson
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"
Jesus Wants You To Know...
"Expect troubles - they are just part of living in this world. Stop trying to figure out a way to avoid every problem. An easy life is not the answer. An easy life tricks you into forgetting that you need Me. But everyone needs Me. When you come to Me for help - when you depend on Me - I give you the power to live above your problems. But don’t just expect troubles; expect the impossible too. There will be times when you have no idea what to do, when you can’t possibly handle the situation you’re facing. Don’t try to run away from this situation. It’s actually the best place to find Me in all My Power and Glory." - "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young
Daily Bread
Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11
When we pray "Give us this day our daily bread." we are acknowledging that God is our sustainer and provider. It is a misconception to think that we provide for our needs ourselves. We must trust God daily to provide what he knows we need.
As the Israelites wandered in the desert, they had no way to get food. Miraculously, God provided manna that appeared on the ground each morning. God's provision was sufficient for one day at a time. Each day the children of Israel received fresh manna as a tangible reminder of God's love for them. If they attempted to store it for the days to come, they found that it had spoiled by the next day. It was impossible to stockpile God's provision because God wanted them to trust in Him, not in their pantry. God's grace was sufficient for each day.
God wants us to trust Him daily with our needs. This trust does not make us poor planners or careless with our futures, unprepared to face what may come. Rather, it keeps our relationship with the Lord in its proper perspective as He reminds us daily of our dependence upon Him. God is aware of what tomorrow will bring and how we should prepare for it. He knows the problems we will face, and He has already made provision for us to overcome them. He asks us to trust in Him daily. Our faith in Him today cannot substitute for our trust in Him tomorrow. If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow.
- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby
Quote: Charles Spurgeon
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
John 10:11
John 10:11
When we truly grasp this, it should transform the way we see ourselves and the world around us. The same soul that Satan relentlessly chases is the soul that Christ bled for, prayed for, and continues to guard. You are more precious than you often realize. Every struggle, every temptation, every moment of doubt becomes a reminder of the battle for your heart, but also a reminder of God’s unwavering love and sacrifice. Let this truth sink in: the King of heaven chose you. He fought for you. And He continues to fight for your soul every single day. Nothing can separate you from His love. Your life, your choices, your faith, they matter infinitely, because you belong to Him.
- Ellie Mont
God Is With You Always - Even In Your Mess
Next time doubt weighs heavy on your heart, when you feel like you don’t belong, when you feel like you’re drowning in your own skin, ask yourself, Is this from God? Because if it’s making you question your worth, if it’s feeding your fear, it’s not His voice.
God doesn’t whisper insecurity. He doesn’t drown you in the lies of “not enough.” That voice telling you you’re too weak, too broken, too flawed, that’s the enemy trying to keep you small. He wants to keep you questioning, keep you stuck in the endless loop of doubt. If he can make you question your worth, he can keep you from stepping into what God has for you.But listen. God called you. Not because you’ve got it all together. Not because you have it all figured out. But because He’s been with you in your mess, and He knows you can handle what’s coming next. He sees it all. Even when you can’t see past your own fear, He sees you. He chose you, with all your brokenness, for something far bigger than your anxiety or your shame.
So when doubt tries to bury you, don’t sit with it. Fight back. Tell it, You don’t own me anymore. Stand in the truth: You are chosen. You are loved. You are equipped. You are enough. Not because you’ve earned it. Not because you can do it on your own. But because He called you. And when He calls, He equips.
You weren’t made to live in the shadows of fear. You were made to walk in the light, boldly, even when your knees are shaking, even when the weight of the world is crushing you. There comes a point where the life you’ve built suffocates you. You can feel it in the ache in your chest, in the late nights where silence screams. You know this isn’t it, but the fear of letting go feels suffocating too.
Sometimes you have to let go to finally breathe. You’re not meant to stay stuck in that small, safe place you’ve built out of fear. God’s calling you to step outside, into the unknown, into the wild life He has for you. It won’t be easy. It won’t be neat. But it will be real. It will be everything you were meant for. - Ellie Mont