Issue 4 | 2023

STEPPING FORWARD
Feel the Pain,
Embrace the Healing
BY NAYA POWELL
“THIS HIGH PRIEST OF OURS understands
our weaknesses, for he faced all the
same testings we do” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT).
As I was enjoying the savory, Southern
goodness of a smothered turkey wing for
lunch, I bit the inside of my cheek. Ouch!
For the rest of the day, I was careful not to
chew food or gum using the injured side
of my mouth. The ongoing discomfort
was a stark reminder of the intense pain
that would follow if I were to bite the same
spot again.
After a couple of days, the soreness
went away. Assuming it was healed, I began
chewing gum as I normally would,
but I ended up biting the same spot again
because—surprise!—it was still a little
swollen. It hurt worse now than it had the
first time I bit it, and I realized that not
feeling the pain on the inside of my cheek
didn’t mean that the area had healed.
In fact, the numbness had just made
it easier for my routine chewing to cause
reinjury.
The physical, mental, and emotional
injuries we experience in life are just like
that. We endure something for so long or
we are hurt so many times that we become
numb to the pain. We’re functional, so we
think we’re fine—but in reality, we still
need to heal.
Pain tells us that something is wrong
and that corrective action should be taken.
Numbness or indifference can indicate
that the hurt we experienced in the past
is more serious than we thought. The pain
still remains, and unresolved pain can
result in passivity, poor judgment, and
further injury. But sometimes it’s easier
to pretend that we’re fine, to deny those
feelings, and to “suck it up”—all to our
detriment.
There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging
our feelings. God has feelings too,
and when we see His emotions in scripture,
they are often in direct response to
ours. He feels love (Jeremiah 31:3; John
3:16); hate (Psalm 5:5, 11:5; Proverbs
6:16); joy (Zephaniah 3:17); sorrow (Psalm
78:40; John 11:35); pain (Psalm 22:14–18);
compassion (Psalm 135:14), and more.
We don’t need to be afraid to admit that
we have feelings, especially the painful
ones. Pain is an inevitable part of the
human experience. Whether stemming
from physical injury, emotional trauma, or
psychological struggles, pain can be overwhelming
and debilitating. A wound that
hasn’t been tended to or given a chance
to heal is easily reopened.
When we acknowledge our pain, accept
its presence, and actively engage in the
healing process, we can begin the transformative
journey toward healing and wholeness.
It’s important to allow ourselves time
to heal. We shouldn’t rush to replace what’s
lost or try to reshape our lives to disguise
the pain. Just be still (Psalm 46:10).
Healing takes time, patience, and
self-compassion, but we will not be in pain
forever. Psalm 30:5 says, “weeping may
last through the night, but joy comes with
the morning” (NLT). God wants to heal every
hurt we have, so embrace both the pain
and the healing process.
We’re never alone; even
in our pain, God is there.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for
being the God that heals me. Help me to
recognize the unhealed areas in my heart.
I ask You, Lord, to heal them all. I give my
pain to You and embrace Your healing.
Let me know when to move forward in
the injured areas of my life. I trust Your
wisdom. Amen.
NAYA POWELL is a freelance writer and editor,
currently working as a marketing and graphics
specialist. She is a Christian minister and enjoys
supporting outreach ministries including Habitat
for Humanity and Tried by Fire Ministries, a ministry
helping incarcerated women reenter society and live
healthy, productive lives.
8 Issue 04 / 2023 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM