God Wounds but He also Heals
When my husband severely broke both bones in his lower leg, the doctor said the bones in the x-ray looked like a bunch of jumbled puzzle pieces. There were complications and infections over a period of four years that required several surgeries to try to heal the bones. Each time they operated, they had to make wounds on his leg so that the infection could be cleaned out and for the bones to be secured with hardware. The last thing they did after each surgery was to carefully bandage the wounds they had caused so that his leg could heal. It was some time later that I read the following verse: Job 5:17-19 (NLT) But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal.
I had never considered that God causes wounds. After reading this verse and because of the experience we had gone through with my husband’s broken leg, I realized that, just like the surgeons, God only causes wounds that will bring about healing. The wounds we suffer at His hand He will bandage with His love and heal with His forgiveness. When we are healed, we are whole, new and better than before.
Not unlike those broken bones, God allows brokenness to bring us to a place where we no longer trust in ourselves, but trust in God. It changes our perspective.
In the book of Job, we read the account of a man who is wealthy and respected. He is healthy, has a large family and a lives a comfortable lifestyle. Suddenly, and seemingly without cause, Job loses everything – his health, his family, his possessions and his friends. Job chapter 17 paints a vivid picture of one who is broken.
Brokenness is not something we desire, yet often when we look back we discover that those times when we are broken are the times when we rely most on God. In hindsight we can see that those times have given us new insight and strength and we can see that there are good reasons for at least some of the tragedy and pain in life. Perhaps from God’s perspective, there are good reasons for all of them.
Although Job did not understand why God allowed such suffering, he endured because his life was built upon faith in God. Job discovered at his lowest point that God alone was enough. When all else is stripped away, we can see God more clearly. In Job 42:5 Job speaks these words: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Brokenness allows us to see the greatness of God.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:18
Oh my – so many surgeries. I hope that all is well now with your hubby’s leg.
You are right; we don’t desire struggles and pain, but God will see us through and we are mostly like grow closer to Him.