Many of us wrestle with some form of emotional hurt in our lives. Although our childhood is brief, the hurt caused in our early years can linger into adulthood. Our hurt can result from our own actions or those of others.
Sometimes the hurt stems from life events such as the unexpected death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job or things beyond our control. In those moments, we sometimes feel that God is to blame for allowing the pain.
To live is to experience hurt. It doesn’t take much to end up with a broken heart. Many times deep-rooted hurts can lead to anger, resentment and bitterness, getting the best of us.
In the movie Forrest Gump, there is a scene where Jenny, his longtime girlfriend, goes back to her hometown. It is the home where she experienced abuse and hurt.
As she and Forrest walk towards the house where she grew up, she picks up rocks and throws them at the house until eventually she breaks a window. She falls to the ground, and Forrest sits down beside her saying, “Sometimes there aren’t enough rocks.”
Do you ever want to throw rocks at those who have hurt you?
Pain is inevitable, but with God and prayer, healing is possible. Here are some ways you can begin to heal from emotional hurts:
- Appeal to God for help in dealing with your hurts and pain. Your feelings and well-being matter to Him.
- Acknowledge the deep-rooted hurts you have experienced.
- Realize that you cannot right all wrongs.
- Release the bitterness in your life into the hands of God.
- Forgive yourself, God and those who have hurt you. Forgiveness frees us from the pain and moves us toward healing.
- Seek pastoral care or counseling to work through unresolved issues.
The next time you feel hurt feelings coming on, pray, God, right now, I need your peace. Please calm my mind and replace my hurt with your caring love.
Psalm 147:3 offers us this hope: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Lord, please help me to release my hurts, to forgive those who have hurt me that You may heal my wounded heart.
