Jesus went through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom. He healed every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them. They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, so, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35‭-‬38 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.9.35-38.NIV

Wounded Warriors

One day, I felt discouraged about someone who built a wall around himself; he is my hero. He joined the Marines to make a change in his life. Later, he served as an Army Ranger. Now, he is a clinician. He laughs and says, “Heal thyself.” I can’t imagine the things he saw while fighting for our Country. But if I am of any value, he helped me heal, and I will be forever grateful.

Many Christians carry the burden of regret. We wear guilt like ankle bracelets. We are so ashamed of our past actions; I am. We say things like, I should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve done things differently. As a result, we are allowing the Beast of Shame to isolate us. Jesus says, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” He said to pray to the LORD of the harvest to send workers into the field.

How about rephrasing self-talk? What if the field were a basketball court? You shoot hoops with a fatherless child. You become his mentor. What if the field were the playground where you saw a child being bullied, and you defended them? What if you see a homeless person and buy them lunch without posting it on social media? What if the field was helping an elderly person carry their groceries in? What if you become a Cross Country Coach? I did, and I don’t regret it; you get the point.

My heart ached for this dear friend, and the Holy Spirit said, “Some barriers are hard to break.” I said, Lord, I don’t know how to break down these barriers; please show me.
It wasn’t even a minute later. The Holy Spirit reminded me of friends who didn’t give up on me; they prayed for me. There were also friends I almost gave up on, but now they are my best friends. When I was around them, I would talk and talk about God’s mercy and grace. They wouldn’t say a word. Sometimes, I would say, Lord, no one reads what I write. I pay for this website, and think I should shut it down, but Jesus said, “It’s not about you.”

I realized then that we hide behind the veil of regret and shame. This action prevents Jesus from showing His compassion to unbelievers.

Although we repent for our past sins, guilt keeps us from receiving forgiveness because we can’t forgive ourselves. Regret is no respecter of persons either. But guilt is not from God. The devil uses shame against us, isolating us with invisible barriers. This keeps us from sharing the Love of God with a hurting world. There are few workers for the harvest. I hate that my son died. However, I know how to comfort others. I do this with the same comfort the LORD gave me. I hate that my ex-husband emotionally abused me. However, I know how to listen and confirm those who are suffering under the guise of abuse.

Many others and I have lost loved ones. We can’t mentally go back and change what we could have done. We can’t change what we should have done. We can’t change what we would have done if we had known what we now know. But what I can do is comfort those the way the God of Comfort comforted me.

Wounded Healers

Comfort in Suffering

“2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we would be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (II Corinthians 1:2-4)

As wounded healers, we can break barriers; we can break chains with the same love and forgiveness Christ shows us. He offers us compassion even when we fail Him. So if you are about to give up on someone, remember that you can’t break down their barriers alone. It’s not about you; it’s about Jesus. Also, remember that Jesus saw that many were hurting. He had compassion. Compassion breaks down barriers. He never gives up on us. Before my ex-husband died, I forgave him, and I don’t hold any bitterness or contempt toward him. It doesn’t change how he harmed me, but I chose to forgive him. I know that by the Holy Spirit, he was forgiven before he died and is with the LORD. I also know that releasing him, I, too, was released and set free from the prison of shame.