How Does Healing Happen?

Recently I shared with a dear friend how much healing and help I have found in Jesus in my season of overwhelming loss. And the question was asked, "How does healing happen?"

My first thought was, "How does God bring the new growth on the trees in springtime?" It's a mystery. God works in the deep and hidden places. Usually it is very quiet. Often it is imperceptible, especially at first.

When the great temple of Solomon was being built, they prepared the stones at the quarry before taking them to the building site, so that "there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built." (I Kings 6:7) God often works silently, in the deep hidden places of the soul.

So in order to experience God's wondrous healing work, what is our part? I think it's very simple. Draw near to the Lord Jesus and stay there. If we lived in Israel in the time of Christ, and we had a desperate need, what would we do? We would find out where Jesus was and we would GO THERE. We would want to see Him, to look in His eyes, to hear His voice, to experience the touch of His hand. We would know....if we could find HIM, then our need would be met.

But Jesus was right when He declared to His disciples, "it is better for you that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (Jn.16:7) Jesus is no longer confined to one body on earth - He is intimately present with ALL of His children by means of His Holy Spirit. We don't have to go find Him. He is nearer than the air we breathe. If thousands of His people are praying at once, it is as if every one of them has His full, complete, loving attention.

The Scriptures tell us, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you," "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth," and "Be still, and know that I am God." (Jms.4:8, Ps.145:18, Ps.46:10)

It is vitally important to choose time alone with God in stillness. Find it however you can, and if you can't find it, ask God for it. I have done most of my grieving alone in the presence of Jesus. I have cried rivers of tears in His presence. He is the Comforter and the Wonderful Counselor. "None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned," (Ps.34:22), so there is no rebuke for tears, or for silence, or for disjointed honest words.

The journey takes time. But the more you dwell in the presence of Jesus, the more you will realize.....He truly is the Great Physician. Given what we know of Jesus in the gospels, it stands to reason that anyone who lives and walks with Him is going to find help in some way.

As this year has progressed, I have been amazed at His power to heal the heart. I feel like I can relate to those in Bible times who experienced His healing, the blind who could see, the deaf who could hear, the paralyzed who were made to walk again. It's quiet, it's gradual, but it's very real. "Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength." (Is.40:31)

Healing of the heart does not mean that we forget. It does not mean that we walk away from memories, or discount the person we have lost, or stuff the past behind some sort of door and lock it. Rather, it means that we run the race set before us "Looking unto Jesus". We take His hand and let Him come into every corner of our heart as Lord, Life, and Love. And we let Him lead us into the new and different day. He promises...."My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." (Ex.33:14)

That is how healing comes.