12 Blogs on Healing after Hard Times
By Jessica Brodie
This week, we’ve been struggling with a recurring sinus infection with my daughter, Avery. She’s had one for more than six months now, off and on, and even sinus surgery in May to unclog things didn’t do the trick (well, the unclogging part did happen, but the healing is still ongoing).
Thanks to chronic ear infections and a lot of illness the last few years, she’s been on so many antibiotics she’s now rather resistant to them. So even though she’s healing just fine from the surgery, it really just ended up showing what was wrong… the infection behind the scenes. She’ll get better in time, and I’m grateful it’s not worse. Things truly could be so much worse.
But isn’t it funny how surgery, which we were hoping would solve the problem, ended up exposing the true problem?
It reminds me a bit of the apostle Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 5, when he wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians 5:8-14 NIV).
Now, Paul isn’t talking about stubborn and deep sinus infections here, obviously. But I cannot help but think of the concept of exposing what is hidden and secret by the light of the Lord, just like Avery’s surgery exposed the “secret” illness hidden.
It’s often very good to let what is bad or sick or wrong come out into the light, where it can be seen and dealt with. This is why we often find that we heal from sin when it’s exposed… when we talk about it, air it out, let the light of truth and goodness—that is, the loving light of God—breath life where once was death.
We all know suffering is a part of life, that while many of experience joy and happiness in this earthy life, hard times come, too. Death, illness, loss, evil, all of this is a part of life here on earth. It’s a truth we cannot escape.
But there is healing, too, sometimes in this life, but always in the next. I never want to go through suffering, but once I’m through it, I can appreciate it, for it’s helped me be more cognizant of the good times, the happy moments, the times of health and laughter. And those good times do come again, even in the center of hardship.
This week, I share 12 blogs I’ve written over the last several years on healing after hard times and suffering. I hope they help you in some way.
Appreciating the Good After the Bad https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/appreciatingthegood
Stepping Forward Together after Tragedy https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/togetheraftertragedy
How Knowing He’s ‘God Of All’ Helps Those Who Suffer https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/godofall
Will Joy Really Come After My Pain? https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/joyafterpain
Learning To Cling To God https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/cling
Can Feeling Broken Help Make Me Whole? Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Brokentowhole
What If I Need To Go Backwards In Order To Go Forward? Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Backwardstogoforward
Beauty In the Bad Times Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Beautyinthebad
I’m Not My Savior Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Iamnotmysavior
Owning My Scars Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Owningmyscars
Can God Use My Pain? Https://Www.Jessicabrodie.Com/Shiningthelight/Usemypain
Thank You, God, for Adversity https://www.jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight/adversity
Thanks to my sponsor: Matt Brodie. Want to help sponsor my writing ministry? Click here.