“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 HCSB
“My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.”
Psalm 103:2 HCSB
This week, I had the first of two dental procedures to help improve my gum health. The strangest part for me was the anesthesia to numb my senses and prevent the feeling of pain.
The work was completed and the feeling in my mouth returned. Yet it seemed like I’d developed some brain fog or amnesia in the process.
This got me thinking about how often in life we try to block our pain, so we don’t have to feel it or address it. In fact, we look for ways to distract ourselves so we don’t even have to remember what we’ve experienced.
There are times when this is necessary, such as for medical procedures or major emotional trauma. In those moments, we need time to heal a bit before we work through the underlying issues to help us fully recover. We need to rest before we can process it through.
Anesthesia makes us unaware of our pain, while amnesia makes us forget.
Instead of turning to our Father when we’re hurting, we may search for ways to numb ourselves and forget about our problems. But worldly distractions only provide temporary relief, leaving the pain to return when the distraction fades.
God doesn’t ask us to carry our burdens alone or pretend that everything is okay. Instead, He invites us to bring our struggles to Him, relying on His comfort and strength, to move forward with a peace that numbing ourselves can never truly provide.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for remembering us always. Thank You for staying near the brokenhearted and saving those crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18) You walk beside us through every pain and problem that comes our way. Help us to remember You always. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Journal: How do I distract myself in difficult situations? What would it look like if I turned to the Lord instead of trying to manage things on my own?