This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)
Hurts take time to heal.
Western North Carolina are continuing to rebuild from the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Floridians are cleaning up and returning life to normal after the devastation of Hurricane Milton. For some the loss is tremendous and the task of rebuilding seems overwhelming. For others, the return to normalcy was more efficient.
Hurricanes are somewhat predictable and many can take precautions to protect their property and lives. However, sometimes the prediction is wrong and one can be caught unprepared. Regardless if you are prepared or not, at times the impact is felt for a long time after the storm.
So it is with hurts.
Regardless of whether you saw the hurts coming or they completely caught you off guard, the ramifications of the hurt linger for longer than one would expect or like.
Hurts come in various forms, but different from a tragedy where one experiences sudden loss of property or people, hurts are those things that affect us internally. Hurts can come from mean words that were spoken to you. Hurts can come because you were mistreated and abused. Hurts can come when one is taken advantage of. Hurts can come when you are laid off of your job unexpectedly. Hurts can come when I think God hasn’t been fair. The list will go on.
Hurts can last a long time. I still remember what a classmate did to me in gradeschool. We ended up getting along, but that memory of a bit of bullying lingers.
Hurts drain our spirit and our emotions. Hurts can be very heavy and lead us to do rash things to avoid the hurt. Addictions come from hurts. Depression comes from hurt. Yes, even suicide is a decsion some make to avoid the hurt.
Is this the answer? No. Not at all.
So what is?
Where do I turn when I am hurting inside?
The book of Psalms in the Bible is filled with the words of God’s people who are hurting. They question God. They cry out to God. They wish God to act and more. The Psalms are a great place to turn when you are hurting. This week we will turn to Psalm 130 which is labeled “A song of ascents.” This psalm was used by worshippers as they traveled up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD, carrying with them the hurts to the Lord to be healed. This morning enjoy reflecting on the whole Psalm. The next days of the week we will look at the verses more carefully so we can find the hope God desires amidst the hurt we experience inside.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Apply: What thoughts strike you from Psalm 130 to help deal with the hurts of life?
Prayer: Lord, into our hurts we ask you to bring hope and healing. AMEN.