Words that Wound
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
Many of us have felt the sting of harsh words. Words like: “You’re stupid, you’ll never amount to anything, you’re a failure, because of you, everything has gone wrong, you’re fat, you’re ugly, I wish you were never born, you’re such a disappointment” These words may come from our parents, teachers, classmates, friends, colleagues or even strangers. They feel like arrows piercing our hearts and souls. We feel like we’re not good enough and could never amount to much. They leave indelible marks on our souls that can take many years to heal. They can cause deep-seated emotional scars, leading to low self-esteem, fear, and anxiety, leaving us feeling rejected and isolated. Social media also plays a role in this, as we are taught to meet a certain standard of perfection, which can lead to false self-perception and emotional wounds. Some of us carry our emotional wounds silently. Afraid to share this with anyone. Afraid of what others will think of us.
But there is hope for those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ. His healing power can heal our emotional wounds. Firstly, through His Word. Many verses of scripture bring comfort and healing, such as Psalm 34:18-19 (ESV), which says,
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.
These are words of comfort that assure us that the Lord sees our broken hearts. He is close to us in our suffering and will rescue us from our emotional distress.
God’s Word not only comfort us, but it also gives us victory over our brokenness. This is what the Lord says in Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV).
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
In this verse of scripture, God declares that He will not only protect the people of Israel from their enemies but will also make them righteous. Other Bible translations use the word “vindication” instead of righteousness. This is exactly what Jesus did when He died on the cross. He vindicated us- pardoned our sins so that we can be made righteous.
The same promise of deliverance and restoration that God gave to Israel is for us today when we go through the pain of emotional distress. So we can use this verse of scripture, personalise it and declare it over our lives. We can declare His victory of healing and restoration over our brokenness.
Another important part of our healing process is forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) says,
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you"
Just as Jesus is compassionate towards us, He wants us to be compassionate towards those who have hurt us. When we forgive others, we extend grace to them so that they can be set free. Setting them free releases us from the shackles that bind us to them and the past. It gives us the freedom to move on with our lives.
Another pathway to healing our wounded souls is serving others in our woundedness. This is what Henri Nouwen, in his book, The Wounded Healer, says,
“Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not, 'How can we hide our wounds?' so we don't have to be embarrassed, but 'How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?' When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.” Henri Nouwen
When we, despite our own woundedness, show compassion to others who are hurting, we can show genuine empathy. We can be God’s instrument that He can use to bring healing and wholeness to others.
I would like to invite you to take steps towards healing your emotional wounds by standing on God’s Word, forgiving others and serving those who are experiencing emotional and spiritual stress.
I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary. Charles Spurgeon
Reflection
Has your woundedness caused you to become bitter and resentful towards those who have spoken harsh words over your life? Why not make a prayerful decision to forgive them and pray for them?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross so that I may be forgiven. Thank You for vindicating me and making me righteous through Your shed blood. I give You all my hurt and pain. I give you all the negative words that others have spoken over my life. Jesus, help me to start my healing process by forgiving those who have hurt me so that I can be set free. So that I can move on with my life. Help me to stand on Your Word that brings salvation and deliverance. In Jesus’ name, amen.
