A Time to Heal

A Time for Everything 
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 NIV

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Sometimes it seems easier to push through the pain instead of taking time to heal. 

• Have you ever found yourself so busy at work that you return maybe a little too soon from a bout with the flu just because you are so far behind only to find you have shared it with others or needed more time off again because you were so worn down?
• Have you ignored a pain because you didn’t have time to be laid up only to find that things are much worse now because you didn’t take it easy or seek medical attention in the first place?
• Have you ever rushed through the emotional and spiritual recovery of a huge life event only to find yourself face-to-face with it again…and again?

We live in a busy time with so many “to do” lists and things that have to get done. If you add that to a personality that is always “on the move” and add that to someone who is not interested in getting to “the root of the problem” it can be disasterous for that person as well as cause problems for those who are in relationship with them.

Any healing might involve physical rest but it also might involve some hard emotional or spiritual work which might not seem restful but is healing. Discerning what you need when you are on a path towards healing is important. Knowing yourself and how God created you is essential. Becoming aware of these things take time and reflection.

It takes time to heal.

There are times that I see so much that needs to be done that I have a hard time taking the time to be restored after a big event in my life. I am thankful for the times God “makes me lie down in green pastures” and “leads me besides quiet waters” [Psalm 23:2] because otherwise I am not sure I would.

I have always been intrigued by the stages of grief and how people process things because I often contemplate how I process things. Some people believe there are 5 and some say 7 and all I know is that there have been times I have floated in and through any of them only to be surprised that some seemingly unrelated situation brings me to a place that was resolved earlier. Was it? Most likely. But, as a “feeler” I can find myself with deep feelings again, though in a healthy way.  I found this interesting article from Psychology Today on Why The Five Stages of Grief are Wrong and it is an interesting perspective. I can’t imagine working through anything outside of the context of my faith in God. It is and has always been the cornerstone of how I process things.

Regardless of what it takes time to work through — health, death, disappointment, etc., it seems that there is always a need to address a soul that is weary and burdened.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” [Matthew 11:28-19 NIV]

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. [Psalm 62:5-6 NIV]

On the Way,

Liz