“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 NIV

Our Wounds Are Not Wasted

Our wounds are not wasted. I recently heard this and it struck a deep chord in me. It’s true. They aren’t wasted. If we allow Him to, God uses our wounds to help others that have been wounded. I have had my fair share of wounds and invariably He has used them. It still amazes me that He would, but He does. Some wounds cut deep: abuse, miscarriage, wayward children, the loss of a loved one to suicide—there are others who are feeling the depth of despair in those and many other areas that only someone who has walked in them can truly understand, who can give hope and love in a little different way, because you have been there and survived.

He uses the wounds we have caused ourselves every bit as much as those caused by others. Wounds from poor choices—even outright rebellion–can all be redeemed and used for God’s glory.

These thoughts gave me hope about the wounds that I have caused others, believing that those aren’t wasted, either. I unintentionally, but deeply, wounded a fellow believer fairly recently and in the process of making amends I found myself wounded as well. I have wrestled with it for months now. As I am drawing closer to resolution (forgiveness and healing), I find myself praying more for them, and praying for myself, trusting that God will use these wounds to help others in the future, in a way only He can know.

He’s not calling us to be perfect, but to be open. To be available and ready to stand beside someone who is walking through a place we have already walked. Others can benefit from what our wounds have taught us, and where our wounds are taking us—hopefully, closer to Jesus, who showed us the ultimate picture of how wounds are not wasted. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Lord, I pray that we can know that our wounds are not wasted, that we can see where You have used them for good. I pray for those who have not yet been able to experience that wonder, either in a wound they are currently experiencing and are losing hope that they will survive, or one that has been healed, but not yet used to Your glory, that You would do so this very week. Amen.