The Walking Wounded
"We wrestle not again flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
There is a battle between good and evil in which we all must fight. As you look around you, you will see a multitude of wounded people struggling to keep their footing and to find their way.
Life itself is a hazard to your mental and physical health. Who among us has been able to travel far without acquiring some scars?
Sometimes those who seem to be the strongest, who leap forth with a shout, sword in hand. Are really the most bitterly wounded. They just hide their wounds or deny they exist and continue the fight. When you are in leadership you can't afford to quit, people are watching you, people are depending on you. You have to keep your "edge" you have to keep the upper hand. You power past your weakness and fight on, but for how long? You are only human after all.
The Romans wore red tunics beneath their armor to match the blood and cover wounds. The idea was to hide their wounds in an attempt to maintain the upper hand when dealing with the enemy. Likewise, many go forth wounded undercover, wearing brave faces as they grit their teeth. We all try to hide our wounds at least some of the time.
But the bottom line is that everyone gets wounded. Even those people who seem to "have it made" carry hurt and pain that you know nothing of. Never judge or take things for granted because you don't know what someone has been through to cause them to act the way he does or make certain choices. A dog caught in a trap will bite the hand that attempts to release it. Sometimes a rough answer masks a broken heart. Try to be patient, try to understand,
Not everyone is strong, sometimes we get weak and beaten down, tired and overburdened. Tomorrow we might rise and be the hero of the battle, but today we are bloody broken down and weak. There is no shame in weariness and pain.
Understand this as you go about your journey. Sometimes the smallest word of encouragement can mean so much. Christ told us to "love one another" and I believe this is the reason why. He knew that we would need to "have each other's backs" when the battle gets hot and heavy. One way the ancients fought was standing back-to-back each fighting the enemy and protecting their comrade at the same time.
At times it is hard to make sense of our pain, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? I have to believe that "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord." Romans 8:28. That he even turns our bad choices into learning experiences. Sometimes a child will complain of unexplained pain and "muscle aches" in their legs, the reason often given is that these are a natural result of their body's efforts to mature, or "growing pains". Sometimes in our journey toward Christian maturity we all must suffer "growing pains".
A toddler is clumsy, and she tends to fall down a lot. My Granddaughter fell not long ago and ended up with a knot on her head. I didn't judge her, I picked her up, wiped away her tears and held her safe until she was ready to stand on her own feet again.
But what of God's wounded children? We can pour on the oil of encouragement and apply the salve of kindness. We can pray but most of all we need to understand. We are dealing with wounded people, and we need to take the focus off ourselves and try to understand their pain. I believe that in the process we will find it easier to deal with people and the pain will be lessen in our own wounds. -Jireh"s Girl
No Scar – Amy Carmichael
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?
There is a battle between good and evil in which we all must fight. As you look around you, you will see a multitude of wounded people struggling to keep their footing and to find their way.
Life itself is a hazard to your mental and physical health. Who among us has been able to travel far without acquiring some scars?
Sometimes those who seem to be the strongest, who leap forth with a shout, sword in hand. Are really the most bitterly wounded. They just hide their wounds or deny they exist and continue the fight. When you are in leadership you can't afford to quit, people are watching you, people are depending on you. You have to keep your "edge" you have to keep the upper hand. You power past your weakness and fight on, but for how long? You are only human after all.
The Romans wore red tunics beneath their armor to match the blood and cover wounds. The idea was to hide their wounds in an attempt to maintain the upper hand when dealing with the enemy. Likewise, many go forth wounded undercover, wearing brave faces as they grit their teeth. We all try to hide our wounds at least some of the time.
But the bottom line is that everyone gets wounded. Even those people who seem to "have it made" carry hurt and pain that you know nothing of. Never judge or take things for granted because you don't know what someone has been through to cause them to act the way he does or make certain choices. A dog caught in a trap will bite the hand that attempts to release it. Sometimes a rough answer masks a broken heart. Try to be patient, try to understand,
Not everyone is strong, sometimes we get weak and beaten down, tired and overburdened. Tomorrow we might rise and be the hero of the battle, but today we are bloody broken down and weak. There is no shame in weariness and pain.
Understand this as you go about your journey. Sometimes the smallest word of encouragement can mean so much. Christ told us to "love one another" and I believe this is the reason why. He knew that we would need to "have each other's backs" when the battle gets hot and heavy. One way the ancients fought was standing back-to-back each fighting the enemy and protecting their comrade at the same time.
At times it is hard to make sense of our pain, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? I have to believe that "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord." Romans 8:28. That he even turns our bad choices into learning experiences. Sometimes a child will complain of unexplained pain and "muscle aches" in their legs, the reason often given is that these are a natural result of their body's efforts to mature, or "growing pains". Sometimes in our journey toward Christian maturity we all must suffer "growing pains".
A toddler is clumsy, and she tends to fall down a lot. My Granddaughter fell not long ago and ended up with a knot on her head. I didn't judge her, I picked her up, wiped away her tears and held her safe until she was ready to stand on her own feet again.
But what of God's wounded children? We can pour on the oil of encouragement and apply the salve of kindness. We can pray but most of all we need to understand. We are dealing with wounded people, and we need to take the focus off ourselves and try to understand their pain. I believe that in the process we will find it easier to deal with people and the pain will be lessen in our own wounds. -Jireh"s Girl
No Scar – Amy Carmichael
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?