The Road to Healing

With summer energy quickly fading and Covid cases on the rise again, people are growing weary. It is easy to forget the road to healing can often be longer than we desire, or anticipate.

Normally, packing doesn’t take me long, but packing for a convention a few years back did. I had to analyze each piece, and even try several on to see how they fit. You see, one week earlier, I had surgery. Much swelling and tenderness remained.

Looking at each garment, I thought to myself, “Will this be loose enough to prevent soreness? The material needs to stretch so it won’t hurt yet hide the bandages.”

Hiding my bandages was most important. Clear, stretchy tape held a rectangular piece of gauze in place, concealing steri-strips over the stitches of my three-inch incision. Two smaller incisions requiring stitches also were covered nearby. So much swelling almost forced me to choose a bigger size.

Throughout the following week, tape loosened their hold, and external bandages fell off, exposing steri-strips to prevent infection. Once home again, stitches were removed from the outer layer of skin. The scars itched occasionally where the stitches on the end peeked through some scars. However, the bigger scar hid another layer of stitches, which would dissipate naturally over time.

Initially, I slept more often than not. Movement was limited and strength kneel. Propping your body in precarious positions with pillows for comfort and rest was a necessity. Restrictions were given until seen by the doctor.

Within weeks, restrictions were lifted, swelling left so did the pain and discomfort. Energy and full movement returned. Sleep became normal again, and clothes fit the same as they did pre-surgery. The revealed scars were smooth with no bumps or swelling.

The scars stay hidden from the rest of the world unless I choose to share. Most of the time I forget they’re even there, but every now and then, I notice. It is then I’m reminded of a problem requiring remediation through surgery. Being hidden doesn’t alter the fact it never happened.

This process reminded me of other invisible scars:

• Insecurities
• neglect
• harsh words
• rejection
• failure
• abuse

These painful, long-lasting scars may be hidden from others, but are always known to ourselves. We may forget after the initial hurt, but situations in life will serve as reminders.

Some people’s bandages still cover the tenderness where healing hasn’t begun. No one has escaped some form of hurt causing bitterness and scarring. No matter the size, no matter how long the pain has resided in your body or mind, there’s hope. God’s love and grace can reverse much, if not all, of the damage.

Trusting Him will reduce the pain of the swelling, give energy back, and remove the bandages one layer at a time. Eventually, if continuing to trust, God will heal you completely. The scar won’t go away, but it won’t hurt you anymore. It serves as a sign of God’s healing.

Chains can break and fall. Surrender and trust are how to schedule your own surgery with God. Learn how to grow this trust and be able to surrender by reading my book, Faith Illustrated: Taking Your Next Step. 

What do you need to be removed from God today? What secret hurts have you been hiding?

Let’s Talk. Share a good verse with us to assist in the healing process, or share a brief story of healing in your life.

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© 2021, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.