The lame crawled like frail children into the presence of a man wearing leather sandals, hoping it was their turn to walk proudly in his shoes. The blind felt their way like the air was Braille, until their fingers touched the weathered compassionate face of a man who has not shaved today. The mute communicate with the eyes of a man who is a shepherd of souls having faith, they will be able to sing praises like morning birds.
A Canaanite woman came to Jesus. Amazing a woman whose nation was destroyed by the Jewish Nation would come to a Jewish man. She cried out like if she was at a baseball stadium and cheered, “Have mercy on me.” Silence grew like a cold night that freezes a lake solid. One could shiver at the thought of a silent Jewish man who was talkative is now mute in his response. His followers were bothered by her outcries and wanted to send her away. He replied, “I was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.” That could have pricked the woman’s heart like an open wound and a medical doctor asks, “does that hurt?’ Yet, with strong conviction like a lion on the prowl knelt humbly and asked, “Lord, help me.”
I know what you are thinking. Why even bother. Our tendency is to give up. Perhaps it was someone who professes, they are a Christian and all they can do is point out the sin in your life. Maybe it was a minister or an elder saying, “this is a civil matter, and we cannot help.” It hurts. You’re wounded already and no one wants to get to the source of your pain.
He replied to her plea of help, but not in the way she expected. Have you ever felt this way when you pray, and you expect an answer and yet, He provides something different than the outcome you expected? Are you shocked?
He replied, "Why should I provide you the very bread of life and to pitch it away?" She could have given up like the rest of us. Giving up because we cannot get what we expect at that moment. She persists with even the crumbs is enough for me. Her faith was proven and her request was fulfilled.
It is effortless to blame God. It is trouble-free to become agnostic and say there isn’t a God. The pain is deep. Alcohol or drugs seem to numb the pain, but only to wake up again with more pain. I know you seek out a church, and some Christian makes you feel unworthy because maybe they have stated that you are wrong, and it made you feel worse.
I want you to know not all churches and not all Christians are the same. Just like in a family everyone is different. There is that favorite aunt you like and your spouse’s parents could be your outlaws. Some are funny, some are not in the right minds and yet they are all in the family.
We live in age that is restrictive in our communication to God. Sometimes we feel it is a one way communication when we pray and there is no answer. We leave churches because we are wounded. One thing to remember is not to forget that Canaanite woman and her response. When all hope seems to be lost. When we feel we want to give up. This is the time to remember the one who heals all wounds. It is our faith and our open eyes of perseverance in seeing what He wants us to see. For those Christians who have wounded you, I want to apologize because they have forgotten Jesus.
When humans put limitations and expectations on words of others and you go back to being mute and you withdraw into a crippled state, don’t forget the power in Jesus. Take courage like the Canaanite woman and have faith. How do we get healed since Jesus no longer walks on the earth? Everything we do is done by faith now. There is a healthy way of living. What is the healthy way of living? What is the healthy way of Christians?
For everyone there are steps of progression to a healthy life. Peter mentions it in 2 Peter 1 to make every effort to add to your faith: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
One has to start out having faith and because of your faith you start walking in goodness (1 John 1:7). When you begin to walk you gain the knowledge by meditation (Ps 119:99). The knowledge of Him (2 Pt 1:3) helps us in our self-control because we are renewed in His knowledge and self-control is the renewing of our mind and spirit (Ps 51:10, Rom 12:2, 2 Cor 4:16, Col 3:10). Once we gain self-control, as hard as it maybe, we are to persevere in our renewing and steadfastness. Persevere under the trials or temptations (Heb 10:36, James 1:12) but the testing of our faith develops that perseverance (James 1:3) so that, we can become mature and not lack anything (James 1:4). When we become mature we make those decisions that help us to live in godliness (1 John 3:6, 9). We begin to act and do things that are according to his word and we do the command that Christ has given to us. Brotherly Kindness or showing love (John 15:17) and notice that Love is the last to mention because that is the hardest to obtain (1 Cor 13:4-8, 13).
I get the hurt and pain. I have been there in the depths of blackness at one time in my life because of the wounds. There was only way to get out of my dispair. I had to get on my knees and be like the Canaanite woman and ask for the crumbs of healing. My faith has healed me, and that is why you are reading this message and to provide strength and hope to your world of pain and hurt.
To Christians reading this blog when one begins to understand the concept of how Jesus healed without pointing out the sin then churches will grow. It isn’t about browbeating, bible beating, your wrong, your sinning; it is about the hurting soul. Sometimes, to draw those out of their hurt or what you call sinful lives, we have to be humble and ask what they can do to help us. Jesus did, when he asked the sinful adulterous woman at the well, “Give me a drink”.To those who are hurting that are wounded, whether you are a Christian or not, you cannot forget Christ, who is the Great Physician. There is a healthy way of living. It is just learning how. Listen to your heart and how it beats for someone to understand you. I hope this gives you a powerful IMPACT into your life. The first step is to know that Christ can help you to have an impact. My acronym for IMPACT: I Must Practice A Cheerful Triumph. When you practice healthy living, you will experience a cheerful triumph. Go in peace and may God provide you the comfort and blessings as you seek and start today towards healing. There are some Christians, like me, that understand where you are and haven’t forgotten the Jesus that heals.
