Healing = Courage + Action + Grace ( PART 2/5 )

Healing = Courage + Action + Grace 

Even with all that beauty and growth and grace…

HEALING DOES HURT

How do we reconcile the fact that Healing requires suffering and yet it is a gift from the Savior? This is because He cares more about our growth and the end result of our lives than he does our immediate comfort.  Like a parent who allows a child to fall when they walk.  The Lord knows that without difficult and hurt we could not learn.  He does not spare us from that suffering that we need for necessary growth and development.

“Healing blessings come in many ways.  Sometimes the healing lifts our burden, but sometimes we are given strength or understanding or patience to bear that burden.” -Dallin H Oaks

 Remember that Healing is…

1.    a gift from our Savior…

2.    that will require effort and suffering on our part…

3.    so we can grow and develop through our struggles.

Sandberg shares the example of Nelson Mandela. Prior to prison the young Nelson Mandela was described by his peers as too emotional (he lacked self-control), passionate (he had a temper) , and quickly stung (he was easily offended.)  When he left prison 27 years later he was described as balanced, measured and controlled. Nelson Mandela had many teachers in his life but the greatest of all was prison.  Mandela said, “I came our mature.”  Mandela developed in prison the strength, understanding and patience to bear the burdens that were placed on him.  He later led 2 groups into the peaceful development of democracy.  Is that healing?  I would say, yes. His personal healing fostered a nation’s healing.

The only way that I can explain the healing that has happened in my life is to attribute it to the grace of the Savior.  My burden will never be removed in this life.  Even if I remarry, I will still always miss and feel the loss of my sweetheart.  Knowing that we can be together again sustains me, but it does not remove the loss.  Only the Savior has been able to take the sting away.  He has given me hope for the future.  He has gifted me with strength to continue on and  the knowledge of how to proceed.  He has gifted me with patience to wait on Him for His promises to be fulfilled.  He has blessed me with great understanding of the plan of my life and the work He wants me to do.  I know that He has a very specific plan for me, and that if I have courage and act on those directions that He will bless me with the Grace to do it.  

To be continued...

Part 3: Healing = Courage + Action + Grace (3/5)

MercyMe - The Hurt & The Healer

Here is a song and the lyrics (below) that describe this process well.

"The Hurt & The Healer"

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from being explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide
Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all our scars are understood
When mercy takes it's rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now"

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take this heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into your arms open wide
When The hurt and the healer collide

[x2:]
Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
And find Your glory even here