“For I will restore you to health; of your wounds I will heal you, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17)

Have you ever considered the areas of your life that need healing?  Not so much physical healing–although you may desire it–but spiritual and emotional healing.  I believe we’re all in need of healing.  We all have wounds: wounds from our past, wounds from relationships, self-inflicted wounds caused by bad choices.

These wounds are often the cause of pain in our lives.  For example, maybe you struggle with certain thought patterns such as constant self-loathing.  Maybe there are certain sinful habits that you can’t seem to let go of.  Maybe you continue to end up in dysfunctional relationships.  Yes, we are responsible for all the decisions we make in life; however, sometimes there is an unconscious force–an unhealed wound–that compels us to act or think in certain ways that hurt us and our relationship with the Lord.

Jesus, too, has wounds; but His wounds are different than ours.  After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles even though they had locked the doors where they were hiding.  In this post-Resurrection encounter, Jesus showed them His wounds.  He wanted them to believe that He was really alive.  He showed them His hands and invited them to touch His wounded side.  By gazing upon the wounds of Jesus, by touching His wounds, their own wounds of fear and doubt were healed. Read more »