How Much Longer Before I'm Healed?

Have you ever wondered on your journey of life (and more specifically your journey toward purity), "How much longer, Lord, until I'm healed?"

If you're anything like me you still have moments where temptations pound at your mind, your focus isn't always sharp, and you even give in to the pull of the old, familiar ways of coping with life's stressors. It can become frustrating to face new wrinkles in your broken humanity, thinking that because you have been on your journey for so long that these faults shouldn't be appearing anymore (at least not as strongly as they do). So, we move forward, but with thin layers of disappointment attaching to our hearts along the way. Before long, the weight of these small disappointments with reality slow our progress and we find ourselves only inching along, maybe even stuck completely.

What is wrong with this picture? Doesn't the Bible say that once we have turned to Christ for healing from our addictions that we will experience consistent, progressive, and continual upward growth? Actually, it doesn't say that (no matter how much I wish it did!). In fact, the Bible (Jesus specifically) tells us to expect hardship, suffering, and discomfort. This, of course, never excuses sinful behavior, but does shed some light on the very real truth that our fallen humanity will fight our movement toward purity on every turn. Our flesh does not desire the holiness of God, and the enemy of our souls will do everything possible to tempt us away from the truth.

So, how much longer before we are healed? Only until Jesus takes us home to be with him. This may seem discouraging to realize that you and I will be facing this battle within for the rest of our lives, but there is good news on this journey. You don't have to remain in your current condition every step of the way. There is a type of "progressive healing" God does in our lives over time as we surrender to Him. The ultimate healing (freedom from this flesh and the devil) will occur when we enter our eternal home in heaven. Between now and then, let us consider changing the question. We may be better served to ask, "Lord, what can I do today to invite more of your healing into my life?"

Never stop asking questions. But be courageous enough to evaluate the questions you are asking to see if they are moving you forward in hope and purity, or simply weighing you down with discouragement and lies.

Healing little by little,

jonathan