Healing, Walking Weak & Wounded, Words of Endurance

All praise to the God and Father of our Master,
Jesus the Messiah!
Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel!
He comes alongside us when we go through hard times,
and before you know it,
he brings us alongside someone else
who is going through hard times
so that we can be there for that person
just as God was there for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 (THE MESSAGE)

We have always loved the writings of the late Henri Nouwen. His books encouraged us greatly during our journey through the valley of suffering. And his writings continue to encourage us through the Daily Meditations provided by the Henri Nouwen Society available for all at henrinouwen.org.

It just so happened that while the Words of Endurance over the past month has been on the subject of “Walking Weak and Wounded” – the Henri Nouwen Society’s Daily Meditations have been about “The Wounded Healer.” We share his words with you and pray they are as much as an encouragement to you as they have been to us.

Sunday July 8, 2012 – The Wounded Healer

Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not “How can we hide our wounds?” so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” When our wounds cease to be a source of shame and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.

Jesus is God’s wounded healer: through his wounds we are healed. Jesus’ suffering and death brought joy and life. His humiliation brought glory; his rejection brought a community of love. As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others.
HENRI NOUWEN

And now we share encouraging words for the journey from the Scriptures …

We have plenty of hard times
that come from following the Messiah,
but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—
we get a full measure of that, too.
When we suffer for Jesus, it works out
for your healing and salvation.
If we are treated well, given a helping hand
and encouraging word,
that also works to your benefit,
spurring you on, face forward, unflinching.
Your hard times are also our hard times.
When we see that you’re just as willing
to endure the hard times
as to enjoy the good times,
we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:5-7 (THE MESSAGE)

On the journey with you,
Dave & Jan Dravecky