Can These Wounds Be Healed?

Can These Wounds Be Healed?

Hidden from View

Every generation matters in our Native community. We honor the wisdom of our elders and protect our children as our greatest resource. Family ties are strong. Our land has been our home for generations, and our culture values each generation. We celebrate what each season brings—planting corn, gathering and grinding acorns, and watching our grandchildren experience a fresh snowfall for their first time. Reflecting on these traditions reminds us of the wisdom shared with us by our elders. Most from outside our community will never fully understand or appreciate our way of life. Our honored values have been handed down from generation to generation.

Sadly, some of our most cherished values are being violated today. Hidden from view are the wounds of abuse among us. Abuse of any kind is uncomfortable for us to talk about. Fear of embarrassment, blame, retaliation, and shame causes many to suffer in silence. Wounds of abuse lead to unhealthy coping habits such as substance abuse. Addiction becomes a way of life. Victims of abuse are found among our children, elders, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates. They desperately need our understanding, our support, and our protection.

As a community, we must acknowledge and address any abuse of which we become aware. Trusted family members and tribal leadership must not tolerate abuse by looking the other way or making excuses. It is our responsibility to protect our vulnerable and to care for our wounded. If you are among the wounded, there are people who care about you. Victims of abuse should not suffer in silence. We must assist each other on our path to healing.

Humanly speaking, it is beyond our comprehension to make sense of the wicked actions of others that have devasted our lives. But as we draw from shared experiences and grow in our understanding, the truths of God’s Word can help us move forward one step at a time. It is this Source of comfort that we want to share with you.

My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. –Psalm 121:2

Finding True Healing

We have found our hope and healing in our Creator. Our help comes from the One Who created heaven and earth (Psalm 121). Not only does He know what and how we feel, He actually experienced life here in this broken, sin-weary world. He left the glory of Heaven to live among us (John 1:14). He identified with us in our suffering (Philippians 2:5-8). He felt the wounds inflicted by His own community (Matthew 13:53-58). He suffered abuse at the hands of those who chose their own cultural traditions instead of His message of love (Matthew 15:3; John 3:16-21).

But it was God’s plan for His Son Jesus Christ to be rejected and wounded—because His wounds were designed to bring true healing to us (Isaiah 53:3-5). Through His death on the cross, Jesus suffered in our place to take away our sin (Romans 3:23-26). God demonstrated His power to forgive sin when Jesus arose from the grave (Acts 3:13-15). He did this for us because He loves us (Romans 5:8).

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. –John 3:16

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. –Isaiah 53:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. –I Timothy 2:5-6

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. –John 14:6

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. –Psalm 145:18

Peace with our Creator comes through Jesus Christ alone. The rituals of religion are never a substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus (John 14:1-6). This is how true healing begins!

Opening Our Hearts

Our Creator is a personal God. We can approach Him in prayer. God is in touch with our feelings and invites us to experience true healing in His presence (Hebrews 4:15-16). God cares about our troubles because He cares about us (I Peter 5:7). God listens when we pray in faith. The specific words of prayer are not as important as the attitude of the heart. You can open your heart to God in prayer and know that He is listening.

“Dear God, I need Your healing for the wounds of my heart. Thank You for sending Your innocent Son Jesus to be wounded on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me! Help me to see my sin for what it is—rebellion against You as my Creator. Give me a heart that seeks Your will for my life and Your Wisdom for my path to healing. Help me to live a life of faith that overcomes this broken, hurting, and hurtful world. I accept the free gift of eternal life that Jesus paid for in blood. Help me turn from my old ways of thinking and to turn to Jesus for healing and peace. I place my trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. I believe that You are faithful to keep Your promises. This ransomed life is now Yours. Please use me to bring others to You. Let Your light shine through me into this world’s darkness. Amen.”

God invites those who are suffering to “commit the keeping” of their souls to a “faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19). No matter what pain we experience in this life, God will never leave us, abandon us, or betray our trust (Hebrews 13:5). We can trust Him.

The healing process takes time. Our Heavenly Father is there for us every day and welcomes us to share our inner sorrow. He listens to our prayers as we cry out to Him. We can bring our worries to God because He cares about us. Christ’s wounds have made it possible for us to come before our gracious and merciful Creator.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. –Romans 5:1-2

Waiting for Perfect Justice

A vital part of our healing is knowing that God is committed to fulfill His purpose in our lives. We are created in God’s image and designed to bring glory to Him. We are valued and loved. He will bring to completion the good work that He has begun in our lives (Philippians 1:6). God does not intend for us to live in despair or defeat (Romans 8:37). Our victory isn’t based on what others do, but on what Christ has done.

We can have a relationship of trust with God. He is always good, and He is always in control. Justice will be served on His time frame. His perfect justice will prevail even when human governments and judicial systems fail to bring evildoers to justice (Romans 12:14-21). Our God is a God of justice (Psalm 37).

God’s Path to Healing

The God of all creation is also the God of all comfort. The suffering that we have experienced connects us with all victims of abuse. We have a voice to share a truly life-changing message:

…the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. –II Corinthians 1:3-4

In God’s strength we can begin a new life that is birthed out of seasons of great sorrow. God’s Word gives us the confidence to share these precious promises with others who have been wounded like us (I Peter 3:15; II Peter 1:4). Our new life is in Christ. Through His suffering, the wounds of our hearts can be healed.

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