Woundedness . . . .

Spell check on my computer wants to say that “woundedness” is not a word.

It is wrong, however. “Woundedness” is a word. It means “the quality or state of being wounded.”

We all experience “woundedness.” Someone says something to us that hurts us. We all experience that, there is no doubt, some of us more than others. The fact that it happens is a constant. What is crucial is not that it happens, but what really matters is what we do with it.

When someone says something hurtful to us, the result may be that we carry it around with us. We may carry the pain for a long time. Therein lies the problem, as woundedness, will become a filter through which the voice of God must come to us. In other words, when we are wounded we will hear the voice of God less accurately.

There is a solution to woundedness.

Jesus says in Luke 4:18,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the

prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free (NIV).”

We can be physically poor, but the word, poor, can also describe a state of being spiritually oppressed, or poor in spirit. When our spirit is in a state of “poor,” we feel bad . . . we are wounded. Jesus said that he came to set the oppressed free. In other words, He came to heal our woundedness.

The Lord Jesus is tenderhearted and full of mercy. He understands entirely what you are going through. He doesn’t condemn you. He doesn’t judge you. He only loves you. He wants you to climb up into His lap, tell Him all about it, and let the tears flow.

He’ll wipe them away. He’ll wrap His arms around you and gently rock you on His lap as the angels sing, “Rock of ages, cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee.” He’ll ask you to stay there on His lap until you’ve slept away your woundedness; until you can enter the world again with a spring in your step and a song on your lips.

I have gone through my own seasons of woundedness. For many years I produced large evangelistic outreach events. It was difficult to raise money and over a period of time, much like John Wesley, I went into personal debt to carry on the work. Three times I was promised bonuses at the end of the event, but never saw a penny of it. Though many came to salvation through the events, I was without fail, criticized when the event was over. I didn’t do things right. Someone was always “steamed,” and didn’t hesitate to let me know it was my fault, even though it wasn’t.

When you pour your life into the Lord’s work and then get criticism from God’s people, it hurts. Wound piled up upon wound, until I was in a state of continual pain.

What do you do?

Well firstly, you must find a place of forgiveness toward those who did you wrong, and stay there. That is just Christianity 101. You must forgive!

Carrying around unforgiveness causes harmful toxins to pile up in your body, which can then cause physical disorders. There is scientific evidence that unforgiveness can contribute to cancer. Excessive worry causes arthritis. Worry is really sin, is it not? The Bible exhorts us to “be anxious for nothing.”

Secondly, realize that God will make all things work together for good on your behalf. Be encouraged. James says that we should rejoice when we encounter trials. Stay in a good frame of mind. Being thankful and engaging in worship as a lifestyle will help you stay in the right state of mind.

Be aware always, that when you are God’s child,

noting can really harm you, except your own wrong attitude.

Woundedness will undoubtedly come, at some point your life, but if you do the right things, it cannot stay. Keeping yourself free from woundedness will help you to always hear the voice of God clearly . . . and that is a good thing. It’s the way to live!

Photo designed and taken by Lorraine

Learning to Hear the Voice of God – Part 13