Just like physical wounds, inner wounds can worsen if they are not properly cared for, simply because they’ve been ignored. That’s why we previously stated that choosing to ignore a wound or its source is far from being (to be honest) a sufficient solution; in some cases, it’s even impossible.

Imagine telling someone who has been repeatedly sexually abused by their biological father, or someone who has been raped—or betrayed by the very person they considered their own child—to just move on and forget it. Denial, avoidance, or evasive attitudes cannot resolve such pain.

This should also remind us that we shouldn’t ignore other people’s wounds either. Just as we care for our own, we should also care about those of others. You may hear someone say to another, “How can such a small wound make you cry like that?”

A small wound… Yes, because it’s not on your body. It’s very easy to downplay a wound when it’s someone else’s. A wound that looks small in your eyes may, without you realizing, be deeply affecting the other person.

We are not always hurt by the same things. These things, however small, may involve words, actions, or events. That’s why even “what seems like an offhand comment may actually cause a deep wound.” Just as you don’t ignore your own wounds, it is right to acknowledge those of others.

A serious wound that hasn’t been properly treated will eventually get worse and produce infections, which may in turn lead to amputations. If that’s true on a physical level, it’s also true on an inner level: an unhealed inner wound can worsen and lead to sinful behavior or misconduct. This is the context in which the author of the epistle to the Hebrews warns:

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral or godless like Esau…” — Hebrews 12:15–16

As long as a root of bitterness is left untreated, it can—as this passage reveals—cause trouble, lead to sexual immorality or godlessness, and even infect many others. This is why you’ll find people who, due to a lack of inner healing, turn to adultery, fornication, prostitution, drug abuse, alcohol dependency, self-destructive behaviors, delinquency, or rebellion against all forms of authority—seeking relief, naively believing they’ll find healing in these actions, and sometimes even thinking they are getting back at those who caused their pain in the first place.

Healing Takes Time

Another similarity between physical and inner wounds is that healing and restoration take time. When the Psalmist says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” the word “binds” implies a process. The God of the Bible can heal instantly, but He also often heals through a process—especially when the person has a role to play in their own healing.

To ignore this is to misunderstand the dynamics of healing, which are crucial when it comes to wounds. It is indeed essential to allow time to go through the stages of the healing process and to carry out the work of restoration that goes with it—especially when the wound is deep and the pain intense.

This is especially true when the wound results from traumatic circumstances (rape, murder, or suicide) or from the loss of a spouse. If you are among those who have experienced such wounds, we pray that through this book, God will lead you into a healing process!…

This text is an excerpt from the book “HEALING INNER WOUNDS” written by Rémy BISAGA.

We invite you to read the following article: “WHAT YOU DON’T LIKE AND NEVER ACCEPTED.”

They Worsen