The Bible teaches at least five steps in God’s healing process. If you want God to bring healing to hurtful memories, from recollections of the past that cause you pain, step five is this:
Reach out to help others.
When the healing process comes full circle, God wants you to then use your pain and the healing of your pain to help others. This is the fifth step in God’s healing process – you’ve got to redeem your pain by helping others. In this way God can use your pain for good. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says of God “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” God wants your healing to come full circle in that you start helping others in the same way God has helped you.
Because of what I went through in Maryland I’m in a unique position to help people that have come from a dysfunctional church background. I can listen empathetically and give clear instruction on exactly what to do to find healing. Because I’ve been there and done that. My healing is complete because for years and years now I’ve been using my past hurt to help people in the present. This is what God wants you to do as well, and there are a number of different ways in which you can help others with hidden wounds of their own:
- Has God brought you healing from the pain of a divorce? Start a growth group and help others.
- Has God brought you healing from the pain of abuse? Start a group and helps others.
- You could help by lending a listening ear
- You could help by sharing your story of healing as God provides you with the opportunity
- You could help by speaking an encouraging word to someone who’s been hurt. I know a number of people who have been torn down by a parent (you’re no good, you’ll never amount to anything, you can’t do anything right). I love sharing the truth with them (you’re talented, you’re so gifted, God’s going to use you in great ways, you’re important to the work of the Lord, etc). They just light up when they hear these things they never heard from their parents.
- You could help by assuring someone of your prayers
However you do it, just make sure you redeem that pain and use it for God. Don’t waste that pain. Use it for God!