Where the healing resides: Pt. 1
Jesus and Therapy
It’s not just a catchy phrase or a cute sticker... it’s the very combination that saved my life. Let me start off by saying that one is not the substitute of the other. The development of our spiritual health is the key foundation to our wellness. We need both the source and resource if we’re going to actually get to the root of this thing. Beginning with Jesus first, I’m going to breakdown the impact of both in a two-part series.
Growing up in an African household, its almost like anything outside of the church walls was forbidden of helping you get through your obstacles. Yes. Some choices that we dabble in aren’t the smartest or the healthiest. But let’s be honest, our parents didn’t acknowledge much of what we felt because we weren’t “adults who had any real bills”, so we resorted to our own ways. Almost as if our well-being could only be contingent on the things we did have.. like a roof over our head, clothes on our back, or food in our mouth. They would say, “nothing is wrong with you.. just go pray”. Now, I’m not saying that prayer isn’t effective or that I’m ungrateful for the provisions because it is and I am. But how does that really encourage one in the moment when they’re already deeply dismantled and can’t even begin to grasp the reigns on where to start? When the materialistic things are incomparable to that lingering feeling in the depths of our hearts? Do we pray and then it all just goes away? No one really explained it all to me. I just knew that God is good all the time and all the time He is good. But what does that really mean? See.. I believe a lot of us have been misinformed. Prayer isn’t just a single step. It has to actually be followed with affirmative action.
If we’re going to encourage someone in the faith, we have to first empathize with their situation. We have to create an atmosphere for them to welcome God in. We have to model daily what a relationship with him looks like that makes others want to do the same. If we’re going to lead someone to Jesus, then we have to meet people where they are. So, we have to begin by telling the truth and that is that we don’t need to come perfect; we just need to come open. He doesn’t judge us. He accepts us at our worst. He can handle our mess.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The day I first ever truly felt his presence. The day I discovered him on my own as Jehovah Rapha —
“The Lord who heals”
And even then I still wasn’t comprehensive of what was occurring. It was December 2014, the end of the semester and just a few days postpartum. You would think I would be in my most happiest state since I had just given birth to a beautiful new life, right? No. All I felt was this heavy sadness and deep torment. My grades had tanked, I was going through a breakup, and had no idea how to care for a baby all in one breath. For the whole month leading up to this date, I spent every night crying my eyes out in silence. And even after my daughter’s arrival it continued. My life felt like it was slipping right through my hands. I didn’t understand how I could have allowed myself to reach this crumbling place especially being so young and once having so much going for myself.
With my daughter asleep in her bassinet and my tears drenching my chest as my elbows curled down to my knees, I’ll never forget the exact words I desperately spoke that night. “God, if you take this pain away I promise I will never go back again. I promise if you take this away, I’ll do better… Just help me”, I said unbearably. It was my last option. If there was a such thing as rock bottom then this was it. I thought that maybe if he could just hear my cry I could receive some sign of confirmation that I would be alright or maybe something would change. Shortly after, I felt this calming spirit over me that was unexplainable. I gasped, not because of an instant relief of my pain but a reassurance of the burden leaving my soul. That was the night I knew that He was real. It was the night that I gave my life to Christ and accepted him into my heart.. right there in my bedroom. No church building, no audience, no one telling me to… just me, Him, and His word. From that day forward, I committed to my promise and God has continuously fulfilled his. I still get lost along the way but He always brings me back. This walk isn’t meant to be perfect and that’s okay because He is. As long as I choose him daily, his grace and mercy are sufficient.
This may not be your experience but whether it is physical or emotional healing that you’re in need of… Jesus’ healing power is available to all of us. He is our source for restoration. He is our comfort in our time of need. He is our light in the darkness. If we give our heart and problems to him, he will show himself true in due time. His promises are valid and his word does not return void. We have to believe, if even the size of a mustard seed, that He is working on our behalf. I can’t help but wonder how much I could’ve been saved from if I would’ve had an encounter with him early on but God is all knowing. I had to endure some fire to understand that he can bring me out unscathed. Nothing that life presents is to deliberately hurt or harm us, but instead to prepare us. Even the worst of the worsts of our pain can still be cultivated into good as we are renewed. Today, I leave these verses with you:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3
“He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Next week, I’ll tell you how I landed in therapy and provide you with the benefits of attending and practical steps to finding a good therapist. Until then, I hope this post encourages you to seek God as a healer and I challenge you to envision the healed version of yourself!