Pass the band-aid

Whether a band-aid (plaster) is boring brown, hygienic white, blue, multi-hued or patterned with comic book figures, they’re a staple in most family first-aid boxes. Just the job for minor cuts and scrapes.

Deep wounds or profuse bleeding require different treatment, usually from a health practitioner and in a hospital environment. Sometimes we carry deep wounds that we are barely aware of – they might be physical or emotional ones but the pain eventually makes itself known.

If they come to our attention then we might feel that sticking a band-aid over them is all that’s required. We can get by with just that, can’t we? I used to be that way. As painful emotions rose to the surface of my mind, I stuffed them back down again and covered everything up.

After several years of trying various therapies, including hypnosis, reiki healing, aromatherapy and homoeopathy, alongside changing counsellors (and admitting that sometimes these things helped but more often than not they hindered my ‘recovery‘), I was finally shocked into getting proper help.

Eventually, I turned to Christian counselling, not realising how long-term and in-depth it would need to be. During the course of pouring out my pain, it soon became clear that one loss stood out above others: The loss of my innocence and being robbed of a happy childhood.

I share these things to let you know that as we confront, examine and move through the events of our past, we can come to a point of being able to Let Go. In the act of letting go – especially releasing it into God’s hands – we are enabled to Move On and look to the future in a new way.

God’s word reassures us that Jesus came to give us:

“A crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair..” ~ Isaiah 61:3 

As an avid reader it was no surprise that I found a lot of help, support and consolation from various books during my healing journey.

The bible was (and still is) my major source of help and strength. It spoke healing into areas as I began to uncover the wounds – gingerly peeling back the layers and seeing how they festered without due attention – and allow the Holy Spirit access to them. 

I also gained insight, support and practical suggestions from ‘Beauty for Ashes’ by Joyce Meyer. Another really significant book that helped me tremendously was ‘Breaking Free’ by Beth Moore as it emphasises how to get rid of the various chains that hold us back from true liberty.

I have also benefited greatly from reading ‘Battlefield of the Mind’. It shows us how to break free from mental strongholds and learn to speak positively about ourselves and our situations.

If I hadn’t already had a relationship with The Healer and Great Physician of our souls, then I would have wanted to turn to Him as the best person to safely deal with my pain and bring beauty for ashes out of the mess and rubble of my ruined life.