Times are changing, time is money, it’s just a matter of time, there’s no time like the present, and as we all know, the third time is – say it with me – a charm. A stitch in time saves nine (which is a huge blessing because otherwise there would not be a ten, eleven, or twelve). We can kill time, track time, spend time, save time, pass the time, be pressed for time, and waste time. Time is precious, time flies, time is of the essence, and only time can heal a broken heart. Wait. Are we sure about that?
We hear it all the, well…time. When we are grieving. When we are hurting. When someone causes us pain. When there is a breakdown in relationships. When we’ve lost something or someone dear to us.
“Hang in there,” people tell us, “time heals.”
Awesome. The next time I’m experiencing emotional pain, writhing with a deep down ache, I’ll just fold my hands and wait for time to heal me. I’ll keep my eye on the clock. I’ll flip the pages of the calendar. A few hours, a few weeks, a few months – it’ll all be okay after that. After all, they say that time heals. How much time, I’d like to know? How long do I have to wait to feel better? How long will I be hurting so intensely, waiting for time to heal my wounds and give me joy again? Hurry up time. Do your thing!
I’m here to tell you that while healing does take time, time does not heal. God heals. Jesus is the one who took our hurts and burdens to the cross, and because of him, we will find healing. Depending on the deepness of the wound, it may take months or years for God to do His work to completely heal our wounds. But we rely on no other healer other than the Great Physician himself. And in the midst of the healing, God is faithful to caress us with His ever-present comfort.
Time without Jesus brings on the bitter. The ugly. The shame. The guilt. The lack of forgiveness. Without Jesus, we can hold onto the hurt, and instead of healing us, time can in fact magnify our hurt, anger, or frustration and produce greater struggle than what caused our pain in the first place. Without Jesus, decades can pass, and the healing will never come. No amount of time can heal a heart holding on to bitterness.
Are you hurting? Don’t wait for healing to come. Fall to your knees and cry out to God. Allow His healing power to seep into your soul and heal you to the very core. Let the Holy Spirit work in you to make you whole again, to give you direction, and to bless you with the peace that passes understanding.
In His perfect timing, you will find healing. Praise God, we serve the ultimate healer! God is good…all the time.
Beautifully written.
Amen! Great word today Laura :)
Very timely :) Appreciate this so much. Lord used this in my life today.
Amen sister
These are healing words in themselves. Directing us to the only true Healer, Yeshua (Jesus).
This is important for those who want to minister to the grieving and don’t know quite what to say and this is important for those of us who are grieving.
Thank you,
Vickilynn
Micah 6:8
My mom died February 1st after a 17 month battle with cancer. Everyone keeps telling me it will take time. Thank you for these words. I really needed to hear this.
Kristen, I’m sorry so for your great loss. Praying a prayer of comfort and healing for you tonight .
Wonderful words of encouragement today, Laura. Thank you so much!
Great timing. I’ve been really missing mom this week. You and another sister from church have reminded me that I’m not alone and that God is there with me.
Thank you for that wonderfully written post. I just lost my mom suddenly, 13 days ago and I am going through the grieving process. It is nice to be reminded that Jesus is the healer, God the creator. All people belong to the Almighty and that our time here is precious and too often far too short.
Blessings,
Trish
So sorry to hear of your very recent loss. God will comfort you to the level of your pain, which I have found to put me in awe of how powerful He is. God bless you as you heal.
That was a wonderfully written post. Thank you so much for sharing. I have read Jesus Calling probably two times through. I absolutely love the devotional and what insights the author was given.
Beautiful! Even before I read comments from others, my mind was drawn to my mom, who was released from her 13- year cancer battle in the summer of 2010. She would have been 70 yesterday. I miss her so much! I think those of us who no longer have our moms with us tend to remember them above other pains when precious words, like yours, are written or spoken. But, the truth of those words are impacting! Thank you so very much for them!
And, Kristin, Melody, and Tricia: I am praying for you with thanksgiving for the precious gifts He blessed us with, for a season, through the lives of our precious mothers.
Beautifully written Laura! Amen!!
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Ditto.
And great scripture !
And this is why I follow you. Beautiful post. Love your recipes and the fact that you never leave Jesus out of your kitchen, recipes and writing. It is easy to out Him first in some areas of our lives but we need to be putting Him first in all areas if our lives and you are a great example of this.
Thanks for always pointing us back to Christ.
Thank you for a beautifully written post. Not only does it bless me, I am planning to share it with my sister, who lost her 21-year-old son this past summer and struggles every day, and with my step-father who is in prison and needs to choose daily NOT to be bitter because of his circumstances. This life is hard sometimes, but we have such a wonderful eternity to look forward to if we can accept Jesus’ grace and forgivemess!
That would be FORGIVENESS!
good timing on this post!
I can definitely see why Keeper of the Home featured this post in her Weekend Links. I loved this post a lot. I have used many of your various saying involving time, and I was captured as a result.
Your message is clear and very accurate. I have to totally utterly agree with you that if we spend time away from God it actually does cause more issues than what was there to start with. God is the ultimate saver and healer for sure.
Thank you so much. I am in the grieving process right now, having left somewhere I have spent 12 years in(I am thirteen). You have reminded me to draw closer to God and to cry out to him.
Praise the Lord.
Naomi, I can only imagine how hard it is for you right now. I am going to pray for you every day. Remember,” He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 This verse has been a great comfort and blessing to me, throughout painful, hurting times.
These are wonderful words. Thank you for the reminder of where our healing and strength come from. I may not be currently in grief, but I’ve had my share. But even in my daily struggles I needed this reminder to cry out to Jesus for strength, and for peace.