1 Peter 4:8, Psalm 147:3
My new friend, "Lacey," a pastor's daughter, was telling me how her lifelong love of church was nearly crushed. The church she attended for decades underwent a change, becoming stricter about how women could participate. Lacey loved to sing, but now the church elders told her that, as a woman, she could no longer sing in church.
You would think this would cause her to become very bitter toward her church in particular and the premise of church in general. But Lacey said something interesting as she described her journey toward healing: "If you are hurt in church, you will heal in church."
Such hope and wisdom! Many have been hurt by their church in various ways. Lacey's insight was that she simply needed a different church, a place where she could sing, a place where her contributions were respected. Lacey healed when she found her new church.
We have a responsibility within the church to heal those that are hurting. We may not have caused the hurt, but we can assist in the restoration.
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) states, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." People are going to make mistakes. One way each of us can overcome our mistakes and sins is by loving. Perhaps the ones who hurt you do not have that capability, but there will be another fellow Christian who can provide the love that makes up for the hurt.
God also heals with love. Psalm 147:3 reminds us, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." When disappointment and rejection come our way, God is able and willing to heal us.
Then we can sing again when we once could not. We can rejoice again after our voices have been silenced.
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