Have you ever seen an infection get out of control? Some germs get where they don’t belong and the body starts closing around the wound,  kamikazying its white blood cells. The dying cells start to stink, the festering gets worse, and streaks start emanating from the initial injury.

It may not seem like it, but death is near unless the festering junk is removed. It’s messy and painful, but opening up the wound again is important so the body can start to heal. A heavy hitting antibiotic does the rest to kill what’s killing the body.

A little infection isn’t a big deal unless we ignore it and hide it from our doctor. Then it becomes a big deal as our body loses the battle against what could have been treated simply.

There are spiritual wounds that fester too. Secrets, shame, emotional damage. If we keep those things hidden, small as they might seem, our lives start to stink as they fester and our spirit starts to wither within us. A dark, lifeless heart is near unless the festering junk is removed.

It hardly seems like a little unforgiveness, a little bitterness, or a little lie could cause so much damage, and they can’t unless we hide from our Great Physician and the care He gives to our besieged heart.

Did you know Jesus came so that we can have life abundant? And our Father in heaven is the Great Physician, fully capable of healing spiritual and emotional wounds? There’s no wait to see Him, and the appointment won’t cost anything but our pride. The prescription is simple and He already paid for it with 3 nails and a cross.

“My grace is sufficient for you, and My mercies are new every morning. Cast your burdens on Me, I can handle all the germs. I love you; let Me heal your wounds.” [Verses below, paraphrase mine.]

If we let Him see the injury right away the healing is pretty quick and fairly painless (though it can be uncomfortable at times). A quick dose of God’s Truth found in the Bible will do for the small, immediate injuries as we lay our damaged heart before Him.

But if we hide it, the infection becomes much greater. The gaping holes and the hidden, puss filled life-killers are gonna take more time to heal. Thankfully God can handle even the deepest of hurts and most festering of injuries.

We need to be honest with our Doctor and tell Him where it hurts. That honesty opens up the festering soul wound, and leaves it bare for God’s Truth to slice cleanly, wash thoroughly, and pack with His fester fighting antibiotic. It can be pretty messy opening up old hurts, and painful too, but there is healing in the end. I love the song If We’re Honest by Francesca Battistelli. It’s such a wonderful reminder of what the Truth can do when we’re honest. (Lyrics at the end.)

And the very best news, unlike human doctors, God can bring the stone cold dead back to life. When the infection has gone so far our heart is hard and cold and we’ve become a walking shell, when the wound has “won” against us, when all seems lost and all is darkness- Our hearts can become warm and beat again, the sickness can be turned back and destroyed. God breaths new life into dry bones, health into rotting souls.

No matter how defeated our spirit or how rigid our soul, a single cry of “Jesus, please heal me!” begins a journey of healing beyond compare. Even the scars will fade eventually, and all you’ll have left is an account of God’s miraculous love and power.

It’s not always instantaneous; healing is often a process. Just like recovering from a physical wound, sometimes the more extensive the heart injury, the longer the recovery. But He can, and does, heal it all. Just ask. Life abundant is waiting. May your journey begin today.

“I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” – Jesus (John 10:10b)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22-23

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry.” – Jonah 2:2

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety[cares] on Him because He cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7

“[Jesus] took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” –Matthew 8:17b

“[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” –Psalm 147:3

How has God healed your heart and mind? How have you shared your experience with others?

If We’re Honest lyrics by Francesca Battistelli:

“Truth is harder than a lie
The dark seems safer than the light
And everyone has a heart that loves to hide

I’m a mess and so are you
We’ve built walls nobody can get through
Yeah, it may be hard, but the best thing we could ever do, ever do

Bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest

Don’t pretend to be something that you’re not
Living life afraid of getting caught
There is freedom found when we lay our secrets down at the cross, at the cross

So bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest

It would change our lives
It would set us free
It’s what we need to be

So bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest”