HEALING FOR BLEEDING SOULS
"25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Mark 5:25-34.
The woman with the issue of blood was desperate for healing and change. But in those days, anyone with her medical condition was considered impure and an outcast. She was not even allowed to take part in any religious activities. Anyone or anything that touch her would become defiled. If any man was sexually intimate with her he was also unclean and must be ostracized for 7 days. If she had been married her husband probably would have divorced her! Such was the pain of this unnamed woman. She was not only fighting a war against an incurable disease but also facing rejection. No one would have wanted to be around her. She lived a life of isolation, rejection, and shame. She was broken: emotionally, physically, and financially. The steady loss of blood over the years must have taken a big toll on her. Yet she kept searching for a solution. She spent everything she had to get well. Yet there was no improvement. She had gone to many doctors over the years. There was not a specialist, hematologist, obstetrician, or gynaecologist, far or near, that she had not gone to. Yet none could help her. The search for a cure greatly impoverished her. So she ran to the Lord Jesus for help.
“From the city men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out” Job 24:12.
This groan comes from men, women, and children, whose souls have been hurt and wounded. Medical science has advanced tremendously since the days of the woman with the issues of blood. Today, there are new treatments and cures for physical sicknesses and diseases, but it is unable to discover cures for emotional wounds of the soul. Everyone hurts! Yet many choose not to address it but to suffer in silence. They hide their wounds. They might look fine on the outside, but deep inside they're hurting badly. Sometimes they hide it by staying busy at work. Some try to pass the pain to others. Some use drugs, sex, food, shopping, and sport to hide the hurt. Yet none of those things work. They only provide temporary relief. Anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and mental illness, starts with a wounded soul. "For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength.” Psalm 88:3-4.
Are you hurting emotionally? Maybe it's memories of the past, the trauma of rejection, desertion, abandonment, or unfaithfulness of a spouse. Is it a memory of physical, or sexual abuse? You trusted a person and they hurt you really bad. It could be pain of ridicule, shame, reproach, prejudice, or criticism from someone whose acceptance you once sought. But the good news is, God wants to heal all of your pains, including the ones that are hidden.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2. The spirit, soul, and body are all interconnected. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The soul is made up of the mind, which enables us to think, remember, reason, and consider; emotions, which help us to experience feelings like happiness, sorrow, anger, and love; and, will, which allows us to make decisions. The soul can be weary or sorrowful. Jeremiah 31:25. It can be whole or broken. The soul can be at peace or in trouble. It can be growing or dying. The woman with issues of blood received more than physical healing. She received spiritual and emotional healing. Maybe today you are wondering if your soul can ever heal from hurts, situations, events, or losses. You don't to be discouraged, Jesus came to heal. He is the Balm of Gilead. He can soothe your hurting soul. He can comfort your painful memories. Jesus can repair the damage done to your soul. He wants your soul to prosper. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3.
1. Admit there is a problem. Everyone has emotions, and everyone at some point in time will experience hurt. To heal, the pain must be acknowledged. Healing begins when we admit our hurt. Be honest with yourself.
2. Repent of hidden sin. Does your soul bleed over sin? Sin makes the soul ache.
3. Come to Jesus. Contact with the bleeding woman would have made any man unclean. Leviticus 15:20–21. But Jesus was no ordinary man. What the doctors and the law could not do, He could and did! So seek God today as your healer. Only He can mend your broken heart. He alone understands the depth of your hurt and pain.
4. You must forgive. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” Ephesians 4:32. Emotional wounds promote an atmosphere of unforgiveness which can open a person up to anger, hate, resentment, or even murder. But getting even will never take away your pain. The only way to release your hurt is to forgive. You’re never going to stop hurting until you learn to forgive. Hebrews 12:15.
5. Renew your mind daily. Fill your mind with the things of God. Do this consistently. As you daily spend time in the presence of God, you will find that He brings healing to those inner hurts and memories of the past.
6. Meditate on the Word. They are “life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body” Proverbs 4:22.
7. Keep praying. “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 7:11. Tell God of the broken places in your heart. Don't stop praying. Luke 18:7-8.
8. Developing a thankful attitude.
9. Express your anger rightly. It’s fine to feel angry, as long as you don’t sin because of the way you express it.
10. Don't be afraid.
11. Have faith in God. To be healed of the deep hurts of your past, you must cast all of your cares upon God.
12. Refocus. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead," Philippians 3:13. You don’t have to keep reliving the memories of the past over and over. Refocus, and let the old memories fade away.
13. Reach out to help others. "who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:4.
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
When the Lord Jesus returns, the wounds in our souls will be healed forever. There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow. So are you prepared for His coming? Tomorrow may be too late! Today, you can express your faith in Christ: O LORD, I come to You now. I know I am a sinner, forgive me. Lord Jesus, from today, I accept You as the LORD of my life. Change my heart from a disobedient heart to a heart that will obey You. With my new heart, I believe that it is because of me that You came into this world; You died for my sins, take away my problems, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, write my name in the Book of Life, and make me brand new in Jesus name.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. O Lord, I thank You for You are the Great Physician who heals all our pains, in Jesus name.
2. Father, examine my heart and reveal to me any areas of resentment and unforgiveness, in Jesus name.
3. Help me Father, to forgive all those that hurt me and not to build up resentments, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, teach me how to love others in the same way that You loved me, in Jesus name.
5. Father, heal my wounded soul. Fill me with the peace and joy I know can only come from You, in Jesus name.
6. O Lord, let Your streams of healing and strength flood my soul today, in Jesus name.
7. Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayers.
