Wounded Healers

By Missey Butler

I heard a term one time that perfectly describes those who lovingly minister out of their own personal pain. These caring individuals were referred to as “Wounded Healers.”

How appropriate and how true! Only those who have an inside understanding of true heartache and have themselves gone through private fires of affliction, can best reach the hearts of those who might presently be going through difficult situations.

Found within many of our humanitarian organizations, twelve step programs, and ministry outreaches are these unique encouragers. They are the quiet heroes of faith who wait patiently for just the right moment to step in and give a word in season to a weary soul. Who better can pin-point the real issues at hand or offer a consoling word than those who themselves have been there!

Not so many years ago, I, myself, was one of those lost souls. Looking back I can see how God maneuvered circumstances in which He brought about my own personal “Angels of Healing.”

One of them in particular used to often whisper to me, “Always remember Missey, in our weakness … that’s when He is strong.”

At the time she said it, I could not quite grasp the full impact of her words, but have since come to understand their untold truth!

Even though it may be true that many of these wounded healers are themselves filled with various shortcomings and character flaws, yet given the right opportunity they will more often then not, be right on que. We may find them with a hanky, a shoulder if need be, or a styrofoam cup of hot coffee, with a willing ear to simply sit and listen.

No, they don’t have a set of initials by their names, or would even attempt to convince you that they have all the answers, but what they do offer is priceless … they offer themselves.

Our greatest example of a wounded healer was Jesus Christ Himself. The Word tells us that he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

We have been given the awesome privilege of bearing upon our own shoulders the burden of His reproach. And, to become his extended hand to a very wounded world, a world that longs to be delivered and set free from the burdensome weight that comes along with daily living.

Will you be that vessel of healing for someone today? You never know; one day you may be called upon to minister out of your own woundedness in order to lead someone to their long awaited miracle of healing. You may be given the distinct honor of serving as one of “His” unique and special wounded healers.

"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (II Corinthians 1:3-4).