HEALING THE WOUNDS OF OTHERS

I want to share a topic I titled “healing the wounds of others”. We live in a culture where there is so much judgment; people are quick to assume the worst without really knowing the facts. Having zero tolerance. So, they start condemning, trying to shame and discredit the person. The scripture says the mercy you show others is the mercy you will receive. (Matthew 5:7) 

They don’t need more judgment; they have enough people beating them down. They need someone who will pour healing oil on their wounds, someone who will help love them back into wholeness. You are never more like God than when you are helping people in need, showing mercy when they have failed, and lifting them when others are pushing them down.

When we get judgmental, saying they knew better and they are getting what they deserve, we open ourselves up to being in their shoes. If we don’t humble ourselves, the scripture says God will humble us. It’s much better if you do it than for God to do it. Learn to live as a healer, as a restorer not looking for opportunities to condemn, but looking for ways to lift people. 

In the Old Testament, there was something called a city of refuge. They lived under a law that said if you killed someone, it was an eye for an eye; you would be killed. The Israelites lived in 48 cities throughout the land of Canaan. God told Joshua to set up six cities to be known as cities of refuge. If you accidentally took someone’s life, if you made it to the city of refuge, you would be spared. (Joshua 20:1-6)

Maybe you were working on your land, and your axe head flew off and killed someone, or your animal got loose and harmed a person. Normally, there would be no questions: you made a mistake, it’s your fault; you are going to get what you deserve.

However, under this new law, if you could just get to one of those cities of refuge, if you could make it to that safe place, the people would take you in, protect you, and keep you from harm when the avenger comes looking for you to pay you back. These people would step up for you; they would cover you and look after you. Even though it was your fault and you deserved judgment, as long as you were in the city of refuge, you were okay.

God has called you to be a person of refuge. When people come to you, they don’t get judgment; you don’t write them off because of their mistakes, spread rumours, or push them down. You are a healer; you are a restorer; healing the wounds of others. They come to you because they know they can trust you; you are a person of honour. You protect their reputation, shield them from lies and hate, and stand up for them.

You cover their faults; you love them irrespective of their guilt and shame. You help them understand that they are forgiven, that there is mercy for their mistakes. How much better would our world be if we were all in a safe place not quick to judge, or quick to condemn? No; be a part of the solution, not the problem. Be a healer and not a condemner. This is not excusing their behaviour or covering sin; I am talking about loving them back to the right path…

I want to live my life in such a way that when people make mistakes, when they fail, they think, If I can just get to pastor Victor, I know he will help me; he won’t condemn me. I know he will show mercy; I know he will understand. Or if I can just get to this sister, she is trustworthy; she is honourable; she will pray for me without making me feel ashamed. 

God is looking for people who can pour oil on others’ wounds and restore them because so many around us are hurting, dealing with things we know nothing about. We wonder why they are not friendly, and why they don’t do more at the office, and why they still have these addictions. If we walked in their shoes, we would understand they are carrying heavy burdens that we can’t see. 

Maybe it’s a child that is breaking their heart, or they are dealing with mental issues, or they have been through hurts and injustices. There is a reason they are not up to expectations. God has put them in our path not so we can be critical and kick them when they are down. No; be a restorer; be a healer. Pour oil on their wounds and help them get back on their feet. 

Here is what I have learned: everyone is on a journey; where they are is not where they are going to end up. Will you have the mercy, the grace, the understanding to love them while they are changing? To be a safe place where they feel comfortable coming to you because they know you are not going to condemn them? You are not going to join the mob and push them down, cancel them because they had a failure. You are going to be a healer and a restorer to them.

RESTORER RATHER THAN CONDEMNING!

Years ago, there was a minister who had a failure in his marriage, and it became a very public ordeal, a big controversy in the press that lasted for months. At one point, another well-known minister accused and criticised him, saying he was a disgrace and should be disqualified from ever serving in ministry again, so hard and condemning. Picking up stones against his colleague in ministry like the elders of the Jews did! (John 8:3-11)

The minister who went through the divorce actually faded away and could not recover from the situation… That is why it’s so important to keep your heart of compassion open. When I am tempted to be judgmental and think they are getting what they deserve, I always come back to this thought: but if not for the grace of God, that could have been me. 

Instead of criticising and adding fuel to the fire, I’m going to let them know that I am praying for them, that I believe in them, and that God knows how to restore. I am not going to live under the Old Testament, saying we have to stone them. I am putting down my rocks; no stones are coming from me. I’m going to live in the New Testament. I am in the healing business, lifting the fallen, restoring the broken, showing mercy to the guilty and healing the wounds of others.

Interestingly, the minister who was so harsh, a few years later, was involved in an even bigger controversy and had to step down from the ministry. When you judge things harshly, you don’t give people any room to be human; that spirit can also affect you one day. Some people make a living trying to expose people.  Joining them will only bring you harm. Get on God’s side, put those stones down, and be a safe place. 

I heard a story about a university student named Bill, known on campus for his wild hair and attire. He wore an old t-shirt, blue jeans, and sandals, looking old school. He was always experimenting with drugs and smoking weed. He was a good student, but he was far out there. 

One day, he attended a campus ministry event, felt something he had never felt before, and decided to give his life to Christ. They encouraged him to find a good church, and there was one right across the street from the campus, a very formal and prestigious church where everyone dressed in their finest clothes. 

On a faithful Sunday, he arrived late and couldn’t find a seat; the small auditorium was packed. As the minister was speaking, Bill began to walk slowly down the centre aisle in his t-shirt, blue jeans, and flip-flops, trying to find a seat. Everyone was watching intently. He got all the way to the front row, and there were still no seats, so he sat down on the floor right in the centre of the altar. 

You could hear the gasps in the crowd; they had never seen anything like this. Suddenly, the head deacon got up from the back of the auditorium and started walking toward Bill. He was in his 80s, a very distinguished man with grey hair, glasses, and impeccably dressed. He walked slowly down the aisle with his cane, and there was such a commotion that the minister stopped his sermon to wait for the man to reach the front. 

Everyone was thinking, You can’t blame him for wanting to correct the situation and remove this young man. But when he finally reached Bill, he laid down his cane and with great difficulty, lowered himself to the floor and sat next to Bill so he wouldn’t be alone. The place erupted in applause. 

The minister said, The sermon I preached today you will forget in a week or two, but the sermon you just witnessed will be remembered for a lifetime. Be a safe place and a restorer. Look at people through the eyes of compassion, not judgment. You don’t know their story. 

The question is, what kind of city are you? I am asking you to be a city of refuge, healing the wounds of others not a city of guilt, condemnation, or cancellation. Nobody wants to live in those cities. Make sure your city is full of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Be a person who gently restores and lifts the fallen. And I know we are going to be tempted to condemn and find fault. 

Refuse to condemn people; we are not the judges. We are the healers; we are the ones who love people back into wholeness. If you will be the safe place, I decree and declare, there will always be mercy for you and your children in their time of need. God will cover you, protect you, restore you, and you will become all that He has created you to be in Jesus’ name.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”