Dance of the Itchy Wound

Day 27: Healing Post-Resurrection

Asa just came to the living room, tears streaming down his face and doing the most remarkable dance claiming his elbow wounds were "Weally, Weally Itchy!" He wanted me to scratch all around his wounds. As I carefully provided some relief, I explained to him that this was part of the owies getting better. As the wound closes and the skin regrows and it can be a bit itchy. We take the bandage off to let the wound "breathe," the soft spots dry up and the whole thing creates an uncomfortable itchy sensation.

The last thing that I want to do when I have a wound (physical or emotional) is dredge the dang-blamed thing up and expose it. It's uncomfortable and often makes me want to scratch my eyes out. But like Asa's bandage, we have to take off the gauze and turn our wounds to the light. Christ is our disinfectant. He tells us to apply him into our life, especially the infected areas. He alone, will provide our healing.  Psalm 147:3 reads, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

More than likely, it's not going to be an instant relief. It could be . . . like the woman who drained the power out of Jesus and was instantly healed after touching him as he passed. But probably not. It's more likely that he will use this wound to bring you closer to him through the slow process of exposure, bandaging and healing. It's more likely that you are going to you your own little dance of the itchy wound. It's more likely that the wound is going to bubble like hydrogen peroxide before any relief will be had.

But the healing will come and some day there will be a scar that you will look back on with only the faintest memory of what enduring that pain was like. The scar will remind you that what you once thought was unbearable was turned over to someone who could bear it. It will remind you that your present darkness can also be turned over. It will remind you that he is strong enough to handle any future wound as well.

The one who died and rose and ascended into heaven will one day take all of these wounds and make something perfect from them.