If I've learned anything this past year, it's that healing takes time.
More time than is convenient.
For example, recently my brother had to undergo a procedure. After months of being unable to identify where the pain in his muscles, knees, and ankles were coming from, the doctor finally found the culprit: a bone spur in his heal.
Now, I could probably ask him all for all the medical terms and details, but for simplicity's sake, I'll just tell you what I remember.
Part of his heel bone was actually dead, and needed to be removed. A cadaver was needed to replace the missing part of the bone. And the healing process would take an entire year before he could even jog.
A year. All for a small crack in the heel.
But sometimes, that's exactly what the body needs.
More often than we realize, our spirits need it, too.
...
Because healing is important to God our Father, He calls us to say "no" to some things for a while.
For my brother, no running. Only a little walking.
For me, no busyness. Only resting, for a time.
This kind of rest has taught me how these bodies and souls of ours long to be healed. That when we give ourselves the proper amount of time, healing is a natural occurrence.
And when we choose not to wait, the pain and ailment actually worsen over time.
But really the hardest part about the healing process is that it often feels even worse right before things are set right.
Like post surgery.
Or when someone is rubbing out a big knot in your back.
Or when you are striving for perfection and approval, and you realize that all that work kept you running in circles around your pain.
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed."
Hebrews 12:11-13
So why not take the time to heal?
Maybe it's saying no to some draining activities.
Or maybe activities you love.
Or maybe it's saying "yes" to a different pace for a while.
Saying yes to longer walks and wasted time on sunsets and private journal entries.
Maybe it's time to say "yes" to healing.
All I know is that Jesus cares a whole a lot about these weak knees, cracked heals, and broken hearts. And when given the time, He comes and sets things right within us.
So what do you say?