Healing

Day 2, Identity

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

              Dennis began missing a day of school a week. Then two. Then he didn’t come for two weeks. I received a call from the school social worker, and we set up a meeting. Dennis had leukemia and would start treatments soon. Because he excelled academically, the school wanted to place him in the homebound program. I would still be his teacher on record but would make a weekly home visit, assign work in each subject, and keep him caught up with his peers.

              Dennis traveled to a neighboring town each week where he received his infusions. Once he made it home, he was exhausted for days. Many times, I’d stop by and he couldn’t stay awake. Other times he was foggy or distracted. My heart ached as I watched this kid struggle through weeks of treatment.

              Toward the end of the school year, Dennis began to heal. He came back to school and integrated back into regular life. Some days were harder than others and often he experienced bouts of extreme fatigue. But slowly, he healed. And Dennis was able to live a normal, cancer-free life.

              Not all our kids show their sickness on the outside. Sometimes illness is hidden beneath the surface. Neglect. Abuse. Beratement. Rejection. Hopelessness. Fear. Loss. Abandonment. Anger. Rage. Hate. Mental illness. Narcissism. This type of “sickness” is often invisible to the onlooker, but can create deep scars and long-term disease to the insides of these tender minds. Acting out. Withdrawal. Clowning around. Defensiveness. Cowering. People pleasing. Excessive caregiving. These can all be indicators of a deeper issue. And other times there will be no signs at all.

              As teachers, we have the privilege to be a part of the heart healing process of so many of our students. Because we have experienced such a great healing in our own life through Jesus, we can offer God’s love and grace to our students. We can build them up, speak positively, show kindness, and recognize individuality. We can pray for them as we walk through the classroom and hallways. And we can display the love of Christ in every interaction.

              One of the most hopeful marks of a believer is the freedom we experience as a result of healing. He heals our trauma, sins, mindset, past, and brokenness. He heals our hidden wounds as well as the visible. He is the Great Physician of our soul and what a privilege to be able to share this healing with our precious students.

Do the Heart Work

1.      In what ways have you experienced Christ’s healing in your life? Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual?

2.      What are some of the hurts that need healing in the lives of your students?

3.      What are some of the hurts that your coworkers could be facing?

Digging Deeper

Read these verses and think about what it means to be healed by God.

1.      But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) 

2.      He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

3.      Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:2-4 (ESV)

4.      If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

5.      O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Psalm 30:2 (ESV)

God is gracious to his children. Sometimes his healing comes in obvious, tangible ways and other times it comes subtly. He may not rescue us from hard situations, but he will often use them to grow us and heal broken places in our heart. What he allows can seem like our ruination, but in the end, he can redeem it for his glory. 

If You Get Spare Time 

              Take a long look at your heart. Do you have any areas that are still in need of healing? Are you actively dealing with those broken places or have you locked the door and thrown away the key? Part of our identity in Christ is being in relationship with the healer who longs to heal our hearts. Have you let him in? If not, what’s standing in the way?