Can These Wounds Be Healed?
Our reservation has been our home for many generations, and family ties are strong in our community. Our culture celebrates what each season brings, such as planting our corn, gathering and grinding acorns, and watching our grandchildren experience the fresh snowfall for the 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.
Hidden from view are the wounds of abuse
Sadly, some of our most cherished values are being violated today. Hidden from view are the wounds of abuse among us. Abuse—verbal, physical, and sexual—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 often 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.
Victims of abuse should not suffer in silence
If you are among those who have experienced abuse, 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 devastated our lives. But as we draw from our 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.
True healing comes from our Creator
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 (Romans 1:16-25; Matthew 15:3,12-14; John 3:16-19).
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 all of us (Isaiah 53:3-5). Through His death on the cross, Jesus suffered in our place to take away our sin (Romans 3:23-24). God demonstrated His power to forgive sin when Jesus arose from the grave (Acts 3:15; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He did this 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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
The rituals of religion are truly empty without a relationship with Jesus Christ (John 14:1-6). Through Jesus Christ we can have great peace with God. This is how true healing begins.
You can open your heart to God
Our Creator is a personal God. We can approach Him in prayer. God is in touch with our feelings and invites us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). God cares about our troubles because He cares about us (1 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, Thank you for giving your innocent Son Jesus Christ to be wounded for me on the cross. I ask you to heal me of the wounds to my heart. I turn from my way to your way (repentance). Please give me a new life (a relationship). Forgive me of my sin (confession). I accept your forgiveness which is promised in the Bible. I believe and place my trust in You (faith). I receive your free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.”
God invites those of us who are suffering to “commit the keeping of (our) souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19). No matter what pain we experience in this life, God will never leave us or betray our trust (Hebrews 13:5). 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 prayer 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 (Hebrews 4:15-16).
He will finish His good work in you
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, knowing that justice will be served in His time frame. His perfect justice will prevail even when human governments and judicial systems fail to bring evildoers to justice (Romans 12:17-19). Our God is a God of justice.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him…and He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment (justice) as the noonday.
Psalm 37:5-6
My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
II Corinthians 12:9
Our healing can give hope to others
The God of all creation is also the God of all comfort. The suffering that we have experienced now 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, and through His suffering, the wounds of our hearts can be healed.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
If you have been blessed by this story and would like to request a copy in full-color trifold brochure format, click here.