When Healing Doesn’t Erase the Pain, But Breaks Its Power
True healing doesn’t erase the past—it breaks its grip. Discover how God's power can turn betrayal and pain into freedom and peace in this hope.
Pain doesn’t always disappear when healing begins. Some wounds leave scars. Some memories don’t fade. But real healing doesn’t mean the damage never happened. It means it no longer controls you.
Isaiah 61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me... He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners." That’s not forgetting—it’s freedom. It’s being released from the grip of what once held you.
Imagine the pain Joseph felt from the betrayal. These weren’t strangers. They were his own brothers. The ones he loved. The ones he looked up to. And they sold him out—literally. That pain didn’t disappear overnight. He carried it through slavery, false accusations, and prison. But when Joseph stood before the brothers who betrayed him, he didn’t pretend it never happened. He said, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). That’s healing. Not erasing the past—but seeing God’s hand redeem it.
God doesn’t tell us to pretend the pain wasn’t real. He tells us, "Do not call to mind the former things, or consider things of the past. Behold, I am going to do something new" (Isaiah 43:18–19). Healing is when the past no longer owns your present.
If you’re waiting for healing to mean it never hurts, you may wait forever. But if you’re ready for healing to mean peace in the middle of the scar—Jesus is ready for that too.
Don’t let your past keep driving. Hand it to the One who knows how to use it. That’s where freedom begins.
“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler
I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.
This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.
Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)
