Knowing What Needs Healing

Johanna Stamps discusses ways to overcome the fear of facing difficult things, especially in relationships.

A question I’ve gotten a lot this week is: “How do I know what needs healing?”   

When we go through the most difficult times in our life, especially in our relationships, we can be fearful of facing the things that need to be tended to. Sometimes, it’s just easier to keep our head down and keep plowing forward.   

The image that is most helpful for this is to bring it to the light. I’ve contemplated a good acronym for L.I.G.H.T. that could stand for all those things we need to heal, but when I made “G” grotesque/gross, I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere.   

Instead, I’ll let Scripture do the explaining:   

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 5:11-14a)

What does this mean for us in the day-to-day?   

Well, you must consider that whatever remains in darkness cannot be touched by the light. Maybe it’s unforgiveness that you’re holding onto. Maybe each time you see someone, you can only think of how they’ve hurt you. Perhaps you feel the sting of their action against you each day.   

Notice any adverse feelings you have toward a person, situation, or scenario, and try to identify the pit in your stomach. Is it jealousy? Resentment? Whatever the feeling may be, bring it to light.  

We can ruminate on any wrongdoing against us for the rest of our life, or we can say: “Listen, God, I don’t know what to do with these feelings, but I’m wasting a lot of time and energy on not forgiving this person. Please show me what to do.”  

For many of us, the darkness of our heart is where we worry and ruminate. This is where we play scenarios over and over again. When we bring these to the light, we find resolution. We can identify answers or come to accept whatever feelings may be holding us back. Most of the time, this outcome is different than you think it will be—and may even be easier than you’d expect.   

When you “let go and let God,” you no longer have to hold onto the hard feelings that hold you back. And when you take a step closer to healing, the sooner you can let your past stop holding you back.  

We have no idea what is truly possible until we surrender our whole beings to God, especially those parts we are not proud of.   

These parts in our hands will just turn to dust; in God’s hands, they can turn into diamonds.  

Here are a few questions to get you started:  

• What are you keeping locked away in the darkness?
• What would be possible if you brought it to the light?
• What is holding you back?  

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Copyright 2024 Johanna Stamps
Images: copyright 2024 Johanna Stamps, all rights reserved.