A Web walk each day with Peggie through a home called Peggie’s Place!
“Valentine’s Day? Bah, humbug…I’ve been hurt too many times and I’m done! I will never, never love again!” Sound familiar? TOO familiar? Your Lord is no stranger to hurt – He felt it, He knew it, He lived it. The pain was not a loss for HE was hurt that YOU might be healed.
And now ironically, the same is true. He will give purpose to your pain – if you’ll let Him! Oftentimes God in His sovereignty allows YOU to be hurt that YOU might heal. And how could I possibly know? Because it happened to me.
Read the poem below, written at a time when hurts in my own life were about to overwhelm. Little did I know that someday the poem written that day long ago would be read around the world, ministering to the incredible hurts of others I do not even know. May our always-faithful Father use it to bless, touch and help to heal your heart this day!
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Hurt–to heal!
by Peggie C. Bohanon
I cried, “Lord, use me!”
He answered, “Wait.”
Then came the hurt.
Loneliness–I walked through desolation
to share His fellowship.
Doubt–I wept through despair to seek His faith.
Fear–I wrestled through darkness
to seize His freedom.
And the Balm of Gilead flowed into the depths of my soul.
It cleansed; it soothed; it healed.
Again I cried, “Lord, use me!”
This time He answered, “Go!”
“I send you forth to heal.
Walk with the lonely–share with them my fellowship.
Weep with the despairing–seek with them My faith.
Wrestle with the fearful–seize with them My freedom.
And the Balm of Gilead will flow into the depths of their souls.
It will cleanse; it will soothe; it will heal.”
He spoke again: “My child, I spared you no hurt–
that I might use you to heal!”
–Copyright 2010 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803.
See Hurt to Heal for additional credit info: “Note: This poem was inspired one Sunday morning following a personal, spiritual encounter with the Lord and a sermon on the Balm of Gilead (cleansing, soothing, healing) by my pastor, the late Pastor Philip Wannenmacher, pastor of Central Assembly, Springfield, MO.”
Prayer: “Lord, I’m hurting today. There are moments when it is intolerable – how long will it last! God, help me! I know you see my ways, that you have a plan, but it still hurts. Lord, please heal me, in Your own good time (and I hope that’s soon!); help me to someday understand that I have indeed been “hurt to heal” others in my world, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
–Copyright 2013 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.
–Find more devotionals by Peggie at The Devotional Buffet.
–Peggie’s HOME page . . . . Fun ‘n Faith blog archives.
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Now featuring at Peggie’s Place!
Coming soon:
Valentine Love Letters at Peggie’s Place . . . . Valentine devotionals
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Diggin’ into the devotional and humor/inspirational archives!
Visit The Devotional Buffet and Tickles ‘n Truth archives for mega-collections of devotionals, humor and inspiration at Peggie’s Place……
…and add a daily byte of chocolate too!
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Today’s Scripture readings:
One Year Bible Blog
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–All Scriptures on this blog are from the King James Version of The Holy Bible unless otherwise designated.
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–Credits: Quotes from Mikey’s Funnies and/or Walking with Jesus Ministries unless otherwise sourced.
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–Copyright 2013 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.