October 11, 2026
“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 (NLT)
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)
”Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)
WHAT IS HEALING, AND WHAT DOES IT REALLY LOOK LIKE? Healing From Within
Several weeks ago, a dear friend, Pastor Carol Davis, treated me to a lovely birthday lunch. The restaurant she selected was perfect – a unique and rather eclectic setting in downtown Detroit that provided just the right atmosphere for fellowship and meaningful conversation.
Because our lives and schedules are so full, we cherish those opportunities to slow down, reconnect, and catch up on what God is doing in our lives and ministries. Our conversations are always rich, encouraging, and thought-provoking. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so, a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
During our time together, I began sharing where I was in the development of my Healing From Within ministry and course, while Pastor Carol shared insights from her grief coaching ministry and personal journey. Somewhere in the midst of our conversation, we found ourselves discussing something that had been stirring in my heart and mind for quite some time: the concept of healing.
What does it really mean to be healed? And what does healing actually look like? As we talked about our respective ministries, I reflected on something Pastor Carol had recently shared on social media concerning the loss of her beloved son, Garrick. Although she is a grief coach who ministers to others navigating loss, she openly acknowledged that some days are more difficult than others. On what would have been her son’s birthday, she expressed the deep sorrow of missing him while also affirming the faithfulness of God in sustaining her family.
One statement in her post particularly captured my attention: “If it lets them know that faith and the pain we feel can coexist, then there is purpose in sharing our story.”
FAITH AND PAIN CAN COEXIST! Think about that for a moment. Here is a woman who has experienced profound loss, yet continues to encourage and minister to others who are navigating their own journeys of grief. She has experienced God’s sustaining grace, found meaning in sharing her testimony, and continues to walk in her God-given purpose. Yet, on her son’s birthday, she openly acknowledged that she missed him terribly. The tears were still flowing. The love was still present. And so was the pain of his absence.
Does that mean she has not experienced healing?
Not necessarily.
Does the fact that she is walking in purpose mean that her healing is complete?
Not necessarily.
Perhaps we have been measuring healing by the wrong standard! Carol will always be Garrick’s mother. Healing does not require her to stop missing her son, forget the memories they shared, or dismiss the hopes and expectations she once held for his future. In fact, one of the things she expressed in her post was that when we lose someone we love, we grieve not only about their absence but also the moments and experiences we anticipated sharing with them. And those feelings do not necessarily disappear simply because time has passed. She also described having great days, okay days, and not-so-okay days. What an important reminder that grief does not follow a predictable timetable!
Healing does not necessarily mean that every day will feel the same, that every memory will bring a smile instead of tears, or that every emotional response indicates an unresolved wound. Sometimes tears flow because something within us still needs attention. Other times, tears flow simply because we deeply loved someone whose presence we continue to miss. And there is a difference.
As I reflected on Carol’s testimony, another question began to emerge:
CAN I BE HEALING AND STILL BE HURTING? I believe the answer is YES! Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV), “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Although Paul was describing the hardships he experienced in ministry, his words remind us of an important biblical principle: Experiencing difficulty does not mean we are without God’s sustaining power.
We can experience sorrow and still have hope. We can shed tears and still trust God. We can acknowledge the reality of pain without allowing it to become the defining authority over our lives. And perhaps one of the most encouraging truths is this: God can bring purpose out of our pain without requiring us to pretend the pain no longer exists.
That thought stayed with me long after our lunch had ended. As I continued reflecting on our conversation, the questions seemed to echo in my mind.
What is healing, really?
What does it mean to be healed?
What does healing look like in everyday life?
It sounds like a simple concept, doesn’t it? Yet the more I considered it, the more I realized how often we associate healing with the complete absence of pain.
We hear people say, “I’m healed,” “I’ve moved on,” or “I’ve gotten over it.”
But what happens when something unexpectedly brings the pain back to the surface? What happens when a familiar voice, a particular date, a photograph, a conversation, or an unexpected encounter awakens emotions we thought we had already worked through? Does that mean we were never healed? Does it mean our healing is incomplete? Or could it mean that healing is more complex than we have understood it to be?
And perhaps an even deeper question: Must we wait until every wound has healed, every tear has dried, and every painful memory has lost its emotional impact before we can walk in the freedom, peace, and purpose God has prepared for us?
These questions led me to consider not only what healing is, but also what healing is not. And if we are going to understand healing, we must also examine another important distinction:
HEALING IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS WHOLENESS.
Healing can involve addressing wounds, recovering from loss, and restoring aspects of our emotional, relational, physical, or spiritual well-being.
Wholeness, from the perspective of my Healing From Within ministry, speaks to the continuing work of God in the whole person: spirit, soul, and body, as expressed in 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24.
And purpose is not simply what comes after all healing is finished. We can grow in our calling even while God’s transforming work within us continues. This brings me back to a question that I believe deserves serious examination: What if healing is not always about returning to who we were before the wound, but also about discovering who we are becoming as God continues His transforming work within us?
After all, some experiences change us. Some losses leave an absence that cannot be replaced. Some wounds require time, attention, support, and ongoing care. But none of those realities places us beyond the reach of God’s grace, His sustaining power, or His ability to continue working in our lives.
As I considered these questions, I realized that understanding healing requires more than examining our emotions, experiences, or even our expectations.
We must examine healing through the principles and precepts of God’s Word.
Because if I am going to teach others about Healing From Within, I must first understand what healing means, intellectually, emotionally, and biblically: what it is, what it is not, and what it looks like in the life of someone who is becoming whole.
And perhaps this is where we must begin:
“Healing is not merely about recovering from what wounded me. It is about learning to live in the freedom of who I am in Christ, even as God continues His work within me.”
Over the next several weeks, I invite you to join me as we explore the meaning of healing, the reality of emotional triggers, the relationship between forgiveness and healing, and the journey toward wholeness.
Together, we will examine what God’s Word teaches about healing, not simply so we can feel better, but so we can grow in truth, walk in freedom, and fulfill the purpose and divine assignment God has entrusted to us.
HEALING FROM WITHIN: Healing the Heart • Restoring Hope • Releasing Purpose
HEART 
CHECK: Examining The Condition Of My Heart
Have I been measuring my healing by the absence of pain rather than recognizing the work God is doing within me?
When painful memories or unexpected emotions surface, do I immediately conclude that I have not healed, or do I pause to examine what I am experiencing through the truth of God’s Word?
Am I allowing past wounds to define my identity, determine my responses, or prevent me from walking in the freedom and purpose God has prepared for me?
HEART CHALLENGE: Moving from reflection to intentional action!
This week, I challenge you to reconsider how you define healing. Take a moment to identify an area of your life where you have experienced hurt, disappointment, grief, or loss.
Ask yourself: “Am I expecting healing to mean that I will never feel pain again, or am I recognizing the ways God is helping me grow, respond differently, and move forward?”
Write down one way you have experienced growth, even if the memory still brings tears.
Remember, the presence of pain does not automatically mean the absence of healing. And don’t overlook the progress God has already helped you make simply because the journey is not yet finished.
STANDING ORDERS ~The Master Physician’s Prescription For Biblical Instructions For The Journey Toward Healing
God’s Word is the prescription
Our obedience is the administration
We must take a daily dose, never skip doses, and apply God’s Word consistently!
Standing Orders For The Heart: The Master Physician’s Prescription for Self-Confrontation
ORDER #1: ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN, DON’T PRETEND IT ISN’T THERE. Healing does not require denial. Bring your pain honestly before God. Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” (KJV)
ORDER #2: EXAMINE YOUR HEART – DON’T ASSUME EVERY TEAR MEANS YOU HAVEN’T HEALED. Ask God to reveal what needs attention, correction, comfort, or continued care. Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (KJV)
ORDER #3: RENEW YOUR MIND~DON’T ALLOW THE WOUND TO DEFINE YOUR IDENTITY. What happened to you may have affected your life, but it does not have the final authority to determine who you are in Christ. Romans 12:2 Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT)
ORDER #4: TRUST GOD IN THE PROCESS – DON’T DEMAND THAT HEALING FOLLOW YOUR TIMETABLE. God’s sustaining grace is sufficient even when the journey is difficult, and the answers are not immediate. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (KJV)
ORDER #5: KEEP MOVING TOWARD PURPOSE—DON’T WAIT FOR A PAIN-FREE LIFE BEFORE OBEYING GOD. You can continue growing in your calling while receiving the care and healing you need. Moving forward does not mean ignoring your limitations or rushing your recovery. Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
HEALING FROM WITHIN: Healing the Heart • Restoring Hope • Releasing Purpose!
Healing is not always the absence of pain, the disappearance of memories, or the end of tears. Sometimes healing is reflected in a renewed mind, a softened heart, healthier responses, restored hope, and the growing freedom to live beyond what wounded us.
Healing and wholeness are closely connected, but they are not necessarily identical. Healing may address particular wounds, while wholeness speaks to God’s continuing work in every dimension of our lives: spirit, soul, and body noted in 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24.
And Here Is Something We Must Remember: We do not have to wait until every wound is healed to begin walking in God’s purpose. God can continue His work within us even as He works through us.
The presence of pain does not automatically mean the absence of healing, and the presence of a scar does not mean the wound is still open. Our journey toward wholeness is not about pretending the pain never existed. It is about growing in the truth of who we are in Christ and trusting God with the work He is continuing within us.
LET’S
PRAY: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word! Thank You for being near to the brokenhearted and for Your faithfulness throughout every season of our lives. Forgive us for the times we have misunderstood healing or measured Your work by the absence of pain. Search our hearts and reveal the areas that need Your truth, comfort, correction, and restoration. Help us recognize the growth You have already brought about, even when memories remain, and tears still fall. Renew our minds, strengthen our faith, and teach us to walk in the freedom You provide without allowing our past to define our future. As You continue Your transforming work within us, give us the courage, wisdom, and grace to move forward in the purpose and assignment You have entrusted to us in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
YOU’RE INVITED! Join Me For A New Series: Healing From Within
1. What Is Healing ~ And What Does It Really Look Like?
Can you be healing and still hurting? Do emotional triggers mean you haven’t healed? Is healing ever complete? And how do we move toward wholeness while fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives?
Over the coming weeks, we will explore these questions through the principles and precepts of God’s Word.
I invite you to join me in my Facebook group, Healing From Within: Christian Women Healing From Past Hurts, as we examine the journey of healing, learn to recognize God’s transforming work within us, and discover how to walk forward in faith, freedom, and purpose.
Because healing is not simply about what we are coming out of, it is also about who we are becoming in Christ.
Healing the Heart • Restoring Hope • Releasing Purpose
REFERENCES: Logos Bible Study, WORDsearch, Life Application Series, Various Commentaries, Books and Study Bibles.