When the Old Still Hurts

By John Weaver

September 17, 2022

Many years ago, I sprained my ankle very badly. I went to the doctor expecting that it would be broken. He said that it was not broken, but it would have been better if it was. What? He explained that the ligaments that I stretched and tore would be slower to heal than a broken bone. He was right. For many years afterward, I endured a lot of pain when there was a change of weather. The old hurts still hurt.

Many people have the same problem. Old hurts still hurt. All kinds of abuse, verbal, emotional, physical, spiritual and more will cause deep wounds. Unless those wounds heal correctly, they will continue to hurt on and on.

Different wounds must be treated differently. Many wounds will heal with a bandage and some salve. Other wounds, such as burns or infections, may need to be opened so they can heal from the inside out.

The wounds from abuse or harsh words are like that. Those wounds need healing. Painful as it may be to open the wound, it is the thing that needs to be done for healing to take place.

Years ago, I came face to face with the realization that I had stuffed pain from my childhood deep inside, and it had caused a root of bitterness in me. God, in His great mercy, showed me scenes from my childhood. I was a hurting little boy. The harsh words that I thought had gone in one ear and out the other, had, in fact, gone in both ears and lodged in my heart.

I asked for help. Several men gathered around me and prayed earnestly for me. Slowly, a deep, long, forty-year-old root came out. I was able to finally heal. For days I wept as the tears cleansed my stuffed and bottled up pain and hurts.

I don’t know your hurts, but I do know hurt. We have all experienced being hurt. The thing is, what are we doing with it? God has made it possible for us to be healed from any wounds. Yes, I know, some of you have suffered tremendous abuse. I am so sorry.

But I am deeply grateful that Jesus came to heal all our diseases and wounds. He said that He came to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, to set at liberty those that are bruised...and more.

We need to release our pain and those who hurt us to Jesus. Once we let go, God can heal. When we forgive, we set the captive free—not the person who caused the hurt, but you, the victim, will be free.

Forgiving is not saying that what happened was okay. It is not setting them free. It is saying, “Lord, this is too big for me to handle. I give it to you. You promised that vengeance is yours. I give it to You, and I choose to let it there.”

Sadly, many people want justice and even revenge. They think that if the person who hurt them has to suffer, then it will bring closure to their hurts.

It doesn’t. In fact it is the opposite. If we want revenge, we will relinquish healing. Healing only comes by releasing. As painful as it may be during the process, it will be worth it all.

Instead of going through life with wounds that always hurt, we will have scars. Scars tell a story.. there was a wound, but it has healed.

Praise Jesus.

The perfect healer!

Amen.