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February, 2006   Bible Mini-Study

Healing of Memories

“I will restore health to you and heal

you of your wounds, says the Lord.”  

Jeremiah 30:17a RSV

    Every event of our past has been recorded in our minds.  If we have hurtful memories, we may still have negative feelings connected with them and they will affect our present and our future.  We may think our past hurts are safely behind us but, if they are unresolved, they will surface in the form of anger, depression, compulsive behavior, or the inability to have healthy relationships.

    Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, "God will call the past to account." (Ecclesiastes 3:15) The Revised Standard Version of the Bible translates this verse “and God seeks what has been driven away.”  We deny (or drive away) our painful feelings because we don't want them to disturb us. However, God may allow them to surface again and again until we recognize them and receive healing.

  When difficulties arise, most of us pray only about the circumstances. But we may be contributing to our problem because we have not been freed from a hurtful memory. When we think our circumstances are threatening our security and happiness, our unresolved negative feelings cause us to act unnaturally.  Instead of a thoughtful adult response, certain relationships and events trigger a childish and harmful reaction in us. Feeling a loss of control, we try in unhealthy ways to regain control or to receive affirmation.

    In the kingdom of God and the reign of Jesus Christ, past, present and future come together (Hebrews 13:8)   Jesus is not bound by time and, if we acknowledge our need and seek Him in prayer, He will touch our hurtful memories and heal them.  Our responsibility is to forgive the people who have hurt us.  This may be extremely difficult if we have been deeply wounded.  However, God will enable us if we ask.  It may not happen overnight, for forgiveness is often a process.  We are able to feel compassionate and forgiving for a while, but then the pain or anger will return and we will have to ask for God’s help again.  God honors our decision to forgive, and will continue to help us until it is complete.  I have discovered that forgiveness is complete when I am able to ask God to bless the person who has hurt me and can thank God for how He will redeem (or has redeemed) the circumstances by turning them into good.

    “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating the praise of the lips.  Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near, says the Lord, and I will heal him.”     Isaiah 57:18-19 ASV

    At first, it may be difficult for us to accept that we need healing. We may feel that our past has been normal and healthy. However, if we see repeated signs of trouble in our lives, we may have unresolved negative feelings from past hurtful relationships or frightening experiences.  We don’t look to our past to blame others, but to receive the healing love of Jesus Christ and be set free.

   “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows . . . he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:4a-5

     I know that when I have negative feelings, I have lost my freedom to some degree.  I am unable to see certain circumstances and relationships clearly.  I react in ways that surprise and disappoint me.  I dwell more on an outward life rather than on developing my interior life of fellowship with God.  I do not want to go within, for there I will meet my anger, fear, guilt or feelings of unworthiness.  I know now I must face these feelings, because if I refuse to do so, I am destined to experience further problems. My negative feelings adversely affect how I view God, myself and others. (Hebrews 12:15)

    Christ’s love for us respects our freedom and He will not impose healing on us if we do not want it.  So, how do we begin the healing process?  We begin by acknowledging our self‑defeating behavior and asking the Lord to show us why some of our responses to circumstances are harmful. Jesus wants us to be healed even more than we do and He is waiting to help and to heal the root cause.       

    When I was fifteen years old, my father died.  I saw his passing as a kind of abandonment or rejection.  As a result, I became afraid of being rejected, especially by men I respected. My hurt and fear was healed when someone prayed for me and the Lord revealed that I needed to forgive my father for dying.  That first experience of inner healing brought an end to my fear of being rejected.  Soon after,  the  Lord  showed  me  there  were  also times I was wounded when I thought my mother was unfairly critical of me. Until I prayed for healing, I was fearful of criticism and responded poorly to it.

    I have shared my hurtful memories with trusted friends because it has helped me to understand my feelings and how I have been influenced by my past.  I thank the Lord for healing me of the memories that were holding me in bondage.  There may be additional work God wants me to do and I will eagerly seek His help.

    We do not have to be afraid to pray about our past hurts because the Lord will only bring to our recollection what He is ready to heal.  After we have received healing, we will continue to remember the incidents, but they will have lost their power to hurt us or to hold us in bondage.

    Jesus will guide us through the healing process -- encouraging us to pray and leading us to people, books or groups that will help us.  It is best if we have someone pray with us or have someone with whom we can share what we are learning (a pastor or priest, a mature Christian friend or counselor).  If any memory is puzzling, they can help us to understand what we are learning and can pray with us for healing. It will be important to ask God to lead us to someone who will encourage us. Throughout the Scriptures, the invitation is there, ‘Come and be loved and have your brokenness healed.’

                                    “This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says,

                                 ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, I will heal you.’ ” 

                                                                        II Kings 20:5b

A Thought to Ponder

    All Christians who believe in the redeeming and sanctifying sacrifice of Jesus are on a wonderful journey toward wholeness. The more we acknowledge our need for healing, the more Jesus can touch us with His holy and healing love and free us from our bondage to self.

Suggestions for Prayer-Listening  

            Lord Jesus, is there any self-defeating behavior in my life?

            Please show me, Lord, if the root of this behavior is some past hurt or traumatic event that needs to be healed?  Help me to receive your healing touch.

            Is there anyone in my life I have not forgiven for hurting me?  Help me to do so now.

Suggestion for Meditation

             Meditate slowly on the following passage:

       “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.”

                                   Psalm 107:19-21a

Encouragement for Ministry Leaders

    When we experience the healing love of Jesus, we take to our relationships and ministry more strength of character and personality and a greater ability to love and receive love.  We become more effective as ambassadors for Jesus because we are less focused on ourselves.  We are more positive in our outlook and less defensive about our shortcomings.  We are more able to see others as Jesus sees them.  (II Corinthians 5:16-20)

    Our faith also grows in strength and confidence because we have experienced the transforming touch of Jesus.  In addition, our gratitude toward our Savior and Healer bring healing, peace and hope to those we serve.