Something draws their attention: a sagging fence gate, a hole in our shirt, a strange noise coming from our car…

I can fix that, they say.

Everyone who loves us, as far as they’re able, wants to help.

But what if it’s a heart that’s broken. What then?

Sometimes I hear myself say, We’re all just broken, as if it’s okay to stay that way.

Nobody gets to tell a person when it’s time to heal, but even the deepest, scariest scars on our skin testify that it’s possible, and if we don’t, infection sets in. A long time unhealed heart is full of infection.

Hurt people, hurt people, isn’t that the saying?

Sometime when we’re brave enough, maybe we should ask ourselves what kind of mess we’re making of our one life because we’re content not to heal.

One of God’s names is Jehovah-Rapha, The God Who Heals.

Have you ever needed a God that fixes hearts?

It comes down to this: either God’s name is empty and holds no hope, and all the songs about Him are fairy tales; or He’s really able to heal our souls right down to the core.

He restores my soul… ~ Psalm 23:3

Anything that happens too fast or too soon doesn’t last, and so it is with healing, but when we’re ready, it can begin as soon as today.

Inner healing is soul-surgery, just like regular surgery when the doctor calls you a few days before to tell you how to prepare.

If you’ve ever had major surgery, you know. You have to bathe with a special kind of soap, and sometimes you’re told to fast. This is to get you as clean as possible, inside and out, for when you’re opened up.

When God does surgery on our souls, it’s important to be clean.

But don’t misread that: Clean and healed are not the same thing. God is healing you—not you—so don’t decide you’re not holy enough for your healing, just like you wouldn’t tell the doctor that you need to know how to do surgery before he operates on you. Don’t let Pride ruin this for you.

To cleanse yourself for soul surgery, God will “call” you with instructions. He might tell you to forgive a big list of people, or just one. Even people you dearly love. This sometimes turns out to be a different kind of surgery in itself. Take your time. He’ll help you.

Your name might be on the list. Do you need to forgive yourself?

He might tell you to fast.

He might tell you to remove certain people from your life, or to add people.

What about bad habits that are making the problem worse?

Don’t worry about those right now, unless God tells you otherwise. Usually those are the very symptoms of your need for deep healing, so if you aren’t healed yet and you try to quit your habits cold-turkey, they’ll just get worse. Jesus warns about this in Matthew 12:43-45.

What about the special soap we’re supposed to use? It’s the Word of God—the Bible. Whether we remember it, or understand it all, it still does its job of cleansing us every time we read it. The more we read the Bible, the cleaner we get. The cleaner we get, the more successful our surgery will be.

Whatever instructions God gives you for your surgery, do it. Yours will be different from anyone else’s. If you’re not used to recognizing His voice, remember this: He won’t condemn you.

If you fail, start again. He knows what we’re made of and His mercy toward His people has no limit.

The secret is to depend on Him for all of it. Keep asking Him to help you. That’s called praying without ceasing. Tell Him every thought that enters your mind, such as, God, I can’t do this without You. I’ve tried a thousand times and failed. I’m not even sure I want You to heal me—Who would I be without this bitterness? But I am choosing in this moment to practice trusting You. Thank You for agreeing to heal me even before I asked You to.

Eventually, that prayer will turn to praise, because you’re healing. Your family will notice, but you’ll no longer care if they notice, because you’re healing.

Ask God where to begin, and trust Him because His name is The God Who Heals.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

~ Psalm 147:3

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A healing heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

~ Proverbs 17:22

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Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.

~ Jeremiah 17:14