Here’s your reminder that healing is not a straight line. Some days you’re going to feel strong, and other days an old wound may surprise you with how heavy it feels. I want to remind you that a difficult day does not mean you have failed or that you have lost all the progress you have made.
One of the most discouraging parts of healing is the feeling that we are somehow “back at the beginning” when an old wound resurfaces or when a trigger hits. Sometimes memories unexpectedly brings back the pain, or difficult conversations leave us shaken. Maybe a certain time of year, a place, or even a simple reminder causes emotions we thought we had already worked through to return.
It can be tempting to think, “I should be past this by now.” The truth is, healing does not happen in a straight line, nor is it measured by whether we never hurt again. It is measured by the ways we learn to respond when the hurt returns. It is found in the small moments when we choose hope over despair, truth over shame, and peace over fear.
A person recovering from a physical injury does not expect to wake up one morning and suddenly be completely healed. Recovery often includes good days and difficult days. There may be progress, setbacks, rest, and rebuilding. Emotional and spiritual healing often works the same way.
For survivors, this can be especially important to remember. Trauma can leave deep wounds that take time to heal. We may need to grieve what was lost, learn how to trust again, and practice setting healthy boundaries or allowing ourselves to receive love and kindness. These things are signs that we are human beings who have endured something painful and are continuing to move forward.
God does not rush our healing. He does not look at our struggles with impatience. He meets us where we are and walks with us through each step. The wounds of Christ after the Resurrection remind us that transformation does not mean pretending the wounds never existed. His scars remained, but they no longer represented defeat. They became a testimony of love, redemption, and victory.
Our own wounds may be part of our story, but they are not the whole story. If you are having a difficult day, don’t assume you have lost all your progress. Remember the ways you have grown, and remember the battles you have already survived.
Healing is a journey. Some days may feel easier than others, but even slow steps forward are still steps forward. Every day that you choose hope is a victory.
This Week’s Challenge
Here’s a challenge for you this week: Take a few moments to reflect on just one way you have grown in your healing journey. Maybe it’s a boundary you learned to set or a fear you faced. Perhaps you started praying again after years of being unable to pray. Maybe it’s a moment when you chose hope over despair, or maybe it’s simply the fact that you kept going when things were difficult.
Recognize your growth and celebrate the progress you’ve made. That’s my midweek motivation for you, friends. Even on the bad days, give yourself some grace. Keep going and be assured that God is still working.
“He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.”
— Psalm 147:3
