i am healed

 

Let me tell you about the coolest thing I did yesterday.

I ran.

But wait, that’s not the whole story:

I ran because God healed me.

If you know me, you know my passion for running. It’s such a weird thing sometimes when I think about it, but it is seriously one of the most wonderful things to me. During my training for my half marathon this year, I’ve had injuries up the wazoo. I’ve dealt chronically with shin splints since high school, and to add to this year, my knees were dying and a little thing called plantar fasciitis got me good.

Now before I start, I don’t want this post to be glorifying myself. It’s not about what I have accomplished, it is what God has accomplished through me. He is glorified through this because He is a good, good Father.

So like I’ve said earlier, I’ve dealt with running injuries since I’ve caught the running bug. I get so frustrated with the fact that one of the things I love to do, I can’t get to do because my body won’t let me. I blame God… “Why me? Why can’t I do something I love to do? Why would you bring sickness upon me?”  The other thing is, I start speaking into my injuries…like they are a part of me. I throw a pity party for myself. But let me tell you, that’s not what God wants of me, or any of us.

Our bodies are incredible. They are designed in such a way where blood is suppose to flow a certain way, muscles activate while others are being inhibited, our brain is…well..so complex, and our cells divide in a certain way. I could go on. But if any one thing is disrupted, we don’t feel whole. We are missing a part of us and then we add the “sickness” to our identity.

God has taught me a ton about healing this year…and what I’ve learned about healing during my training for my half is that: GOD DESIRES TO HEAL US. God has lavished His grace upon me…. even for silly running injuries to teach me this.

GOD DESIRES TO HEAL EVERY SINGLE PART OF US.  Maybe you’re like me and have running injuries. Maybe you’ve been trying to beat cancer. Maybe you’ve been battling depression. Maybe you have a genetic condition. Maybe you see your health declining and have to make changes within your life to accommodate.

God desires to heal you.

I think I read somewhere that the number one prayer request is for healing (don’t trust me on that, but I think it sounds pretty valid). We see sickness all around us. We catch a cold every winter. We see family members health decline. We see friends battle mental illnesses. How could a loving God let that happen?

I don’t want to begin one of the most popular topics regarding why God lets bad things happen to us. This isn’t the point of what I write today. I want to talk about the OUTCOME, and the journey of how God is presently with us through our struggles.

“So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

“Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”

Psalm 30:2

 

There are so many verses and stories that show the merciful, gracious, redeeming qualities of our Father. One quick example (I love this story). In Luke 8:43-48, Jesus is already on His way to go heal a dying 12 year old. One woman heard on the street that Jesus was passing through. Now this woman has been bleeding internally for TWELVE YEARS. TWELVE!!!! She has been chronically  dealing with this sickness, 365 days a year, for TWELVE YEARS.  Long story short…Jesus heals her. Jesus DESIRED to heal her. It may not seem like it because He didn’t initiate and call her out saying “You need to be healed don’t you?” He waited. He waited for her. She REACHED OUT, by faith, and touched His clothing. She walked out on a limb…looking desperately to be healed. It’s funny, because I think, Jesus didn’t have to heal her. She could have touched His cloak and nothing could have happened. But He did.

He wants the same for us. He wants us to trust. He wants us to reach out. HE DESIRES TO HEAL US!!

One other thing I want you to know along with the fact that God desires to heal you…. you do not have to identify with your illness, and your illness DOES NOT DEFINE YOU.

You are not depression. You are not anxiety. You are not cancer. You are not the person who hurts them self. You are not an injured runner. You are not the medication you are taking. You are not ________ (fill in the blank).

You are lovely. You are loved. You are wonderful. You are healed. You are new. You are God’s hand-crafted work (that is very good, if I may add). You are holy and blameless. You are redemption.

Speak that over your life. Even when you feel there is no hope. Even through the sorrow. Speak life. Speak truth.

The last thing I want you to know: just remember God is not a genie. Poof, granting wishes right away. He is so much more. I’ve never met a genie (except for on Aladdin….thanks Disney), but I feel like God is a lot more loving. Anyways. Obviously, God works in His own timing, for His glory, and He will hold on to His promises.Things are going to happen in our life that we can’t control. But we have a loving Father that will be with us every step of the way. We just have to reach out, touch His presence, and have faith that He is our healer (Exodus 15:26).

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

#isntshelovely

(also, this song is so bomb—->>>> I am healed by River Valley Worship)