Scripture
Acts 14:19 -22
“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.”
Observation
Paul was not part of the Walking Dead, but he was” walking wounded.” Though he was badly injured, he somehow kept walking forward and persevered rather than giving up. How did he do this?
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He rested for the right amount of time, then got back on his feet. Overnight wasn’t a long time, but apparently it was enough time.
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He walked with a trusted companion. He didn’t drag the entire church along with him, but he did take Barnabas.
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He stayed “on target”. When they got to Derbe he didn’t start a blog about how to recover from a stoning: he preached the gospel.
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He spoke encouragement, he didn’t merely share his woundedness: He acknowledged his injuries, but encouraged the believers to persevere through tribulation.
Application
There are few things harder than getting back up after being knocked down. There are few things more difficult than walking forward through pain. But sitting and wallowing in woundedness is rarely helpful!
This passage reminds me that there is a process to healing:
It involves rest.
It involves relationship.
It involves intentional choice and focus.
It involves a humble willingness to speak encouragement to others, and to let God use every part of my story for His purpose.
Like a physical therapist who requires the patient to stretch and move. God calls me to walk forward into my healing: not so that I remain a member of the “walking wounded”, but so that my healing can be made complete.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder and encouragement! Help me today to walk with you-not ignoring genuine wounds, but instead with a conscious decision to heal. Use me today for your glory to speak healing into someone’s life, even as your healing is continued in me.
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