Every person carries some form of pain. While some of this is evident on the exterior, many of us bury the pain deep within our souls where it cannot be seen. Whether from broken trust, disappointment, loss of something we never could have imagined losing — these types of experiences are not erased with time. Instead, they leave scars. Furthermore, when we honestly reflect on ourselves, we may find that we attempt to “move on” from such experiences while continuing to limp internally.
However, the good news is that Jesus Christ is not merely forgiving of sin; He is restoring broken lives. Jesus is able to reach beneath the surface of our pain and say, “I am able to heal that as well.” Psalm 23:3 (NLT) states, “He renews my strength. He leads me along right paths for his name’s sake.” This is what true healing and restoration look like — not simply relief, but renewal.
The Scars We All Carry
We all carry a type of scar — whether visible or invisible, obvious or hidden. Regardless of how the scarring manifests itself, scars continue to affect us in the way we choose to love, in the way we decide to trust, and in the way we allow God to enter into our lives. According to Proverbs 18:14 (NLT), “A crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Therefore, there must be a depth to healing that is far beyond “moving on.” Time does not heal all wounds — Jesus does. When the Spirit of God begins to reach into our souls, He is not merely covering the cracks, He is restoring what we had previously believed to be irreparably damaged. He reaches into our memories, into our patterns, and into the lies we have chosen to believe, and He replaces each of these with truth, peace, and freedom.
The Savior of the Soul
In Luke 4:18-19 (NLT), Jesus, having entered into the synagogue, read from the scroll of Isaiah and announced what He had come to accomplish. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
What Jesus was saying was not limited to healing of the physical bodies or breaking the chains that bind individuals externally. He was addressing the internal aspects of the individual as well. The blind whom He came to heal were those who were unable to see beyond their own pain. The captives included those bound by the cycles of shame, fear, and unforgiveness. The oppressed included those who were burdened by the weight of unfulfilled expectations and the hurt of unmet dreams.
Jesus is the Savior of the soul. There is no wound that is too great, no experience that is too painful, for Jesus to restore.
Healing vs. Restoration
While healing addresses the pain, restoration provides the individual with that which has been taken. You can be healed from the sting of rejection, but restoration gives you the confidence and the joy that you thought would never be restored. You can be healed from the grief of a lost season, but restoration gives you fresh vision for your future.
According to Psalm 147:3 (NLT), “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” This is what Jesus’ healing is like. However, according to Joel 2:25 (NLT), “the Lord said, ‘I will give you back what you lost.'” This is what Jesus’ restorative work looks like. Healing closes the wound, while restoration gives you back your song.
The Process of Soul Healing
God often heals the soul in stages. At times, His Spirit works instantly, and the area of your life that once brought you crushing pain is now powerless over you. Other times, it is a process — one prayer, one scripture, one breakthrough at a time.
God’s Word brings truth. As Psalm 107:20 (NLT) states, “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” When you spend time reading God’s Word, the lies begin to lose their hold on you.
God’s Spirit brings comfort. The Holy Spirit is aware of the exact location of the wound and knows how to gently yet effectively touch it.
God’s people provide support. Often, God surrounds you with other believers who are safe and filled with the Spirit, reminding you that you are not alone in your journey.
Soul healing is highly personal, but you do not have to navigate the journey alone.
Restoration as a Witness
There is beauty in restoration — restoration is never solely for your benefit. When God restores you, your story becomes hope for someone else. Second Corinthians 1:4 (NLT) states, “And he comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Your scars are a testament to how faithful God has been to you. Your story can be the light that another person will need to find their way. And your healing is a demonstration of God’s ability to heal, deliver and make all things new again.
Moving Into Your Healing
Jesus’ healing and restoration do not come from trying to be better at being a Christian. Healing and restoration come when we surrender to Him. When you let go of trying to hold everything together and hand it over to God, then God’s spirit begins to work.
So lay them down…the disappointment, the anger, the hidden hurts. Allow God’s word to be louder than your hurt. And know that although you may not see anything right now, He is working on restoring you, under the surface. Psalm 30:11(NLT), “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” That is what He does.