This post by Faith Hakesley originally appeared Nov 8, 2020, at her blog, FaithHakesley.com.
Some reflections about healing
While healing IS possible, it is hard work.
Being authentic, courageous, and strong is hard work, requiring effort, hard work, time, and patience.
Some people will try to get you to believe that, if you just have faith, you’ll be all set. If you just pray, you’ll be all set. Please don’t misunderstand, faith is important! Prayer is important! Both aid in healing and both are huge factors in attaining true and lasting peace and freedom.
But the whole person needs to be incorporated in the healing process. The mind, body, and spirit all have a place.
There is no magic pill for healing. There is no one therapy, person, or inspirational quote that is going to make everything suddenly all better. You can journal, go to therapy, pray, exercise, nurse the physical wounds, and make all sorts of healthy choices, and yet you may find that some wounds open from time and time and may still need healing. There may be some part of you that is stuck, still being held by the chains that bind you.
Sometimes the hurt comes back full-force when you least expect it. There will be long days. There will be bad days.
There will be days that feel better than others. There will be days when you have incredible breakthroughs. There will be days when you feel on top of the world. And there will be a whole mix of days in between.
It’s all part of healing.
Healing requires effort and commitment. And, yes, along with all the physical and emotional work, it requires faith and trust in Our Lord who is the Divine Healer.
Healing isn’t easy, but it is possible. And it’s worth it! YOU are worth the time, energy, and effort.
You are not alone and, just because you have bad days, does not mean you have failed. Far from it! When you face the pain, even when it rises unexpectedly to the surface, you are doing what you need to do. You are standing up to the person/ people who hurt you. You are remaining committed to staying on the healing path. You are persevering in spite of suffering.
There is no quick fix. Healing, transformation, restoration…they take time.
Keep reading at FaithHakesley.com.
If you’d like to ask Faith a question, please email her at AskASurvivor@ruthinstitute.org.