Ways To Heal

If you’ve been on a journey of healing, you will know that a lot of the times, it is a continuous journey in life — healing is usually not linear, nor a smooth path. Sometimes, we don’t even know we need healing until we feel like it’s far too late!

With God, however, we know that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Nothing is impossible or too hard for God, and we can cling onto His promise that He will take care of His children (Psalm 55:22).

Whatever you may need healing from today, here are some simple ideas of ways to find healing…

Commit to prayer

In everything, give it to the Lord. As Christians, one of our daily practices, something we literally cannot do without is prayer. This is how we communicate with God, how we draw closer in relationship with Him, how we gain peace, how we gain understanding, and so much more. Prayer is vital in the Christian life.

In your healing journey, make prayer a priority. Give it all to the Lord. He is mighty to save and can handle whatever you “throw” at Him. He cares deeply for you, dear sister, so cast all your anxieties onto Him (1 Peter 5:7). Let His peace envelope and comfort you as you pray.

Journal

I’m a huge fan of writing and journaling (if that’s not obvious by now!), and there are countless studies in psychology publications noting just how mentally beneficial journaling is for us. From gaining clarity to allowing us an avenue of “letting it all out”, journaling is one of the best ways to heal.

I personally started journalling when I was 10 years old when I first read Anne Frank’s Diary. I loved her book and read it countless times, and; inspired by her, started my own diary since a child. I have since been journalling whenever I feel I “need” it since then. I journaled a lot in my first year of marriage, when I was living half way across the world and was overwhelmed with loneliness and homesickness. Coupled that with the other points I make in this post, journaling helped greatly.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can pour out your thoughts on paper, then rip it up and throw it away. Or you can simply keep a journal and write every night about your day, and it will help you gather and make sense of your thoughts.

Read God’s Word

Let God’s words bring you peace and healing by practicing to read the Bible at a set time every day. Stay in the Word and cling onto it for as long as it takes — weeks, months, years.

Hang onto Him and His promises, which the Bible is full of, and you can trust. I especially love this promise that Jesus gives us in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The book of Psalms is always a great read when you are going through trials. You can use the psalmist’s words as a prayer and cry out to the Lord in your suffering and trials.

Reach out to others

We need friends and we need community. In fact, we were made for it! I encourage you in your healing journey to reach out to a friend or family member for comfort and healing. You don’t need to be best friends with this person. You can simply reach out to someone who you may know have gone through what you are going through.

Or perhaps there’s a lady in your Bible study group who talked about overcoming an issue, and, even though you don’t know her well, you can reach out and ask if she’ll like to chat and share how she overcame said issue. Or perhaps you’re going through depression and you know of an aunt who went through the same thing. Give them a quick text, and ask them if they can speak with you.

You never know how much you may need some wise counsel or a friendship, or simply someone to be there and listen. But it won’t happen, usually, unless you make the first move. Some people may not even know of your suffering. Be bold and brave and take that first step and reach out. The Bible says in Galatians 6:2 that we are to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Seek out biblical counselling

As I wrote about in my journey in overcoming depression, I went for Biblical counselling at a church after seeing secular therapists and for me, it was only biblical counselling that truly helped — I will forever sing the praises of solid, biblical counselling. After all, as Christian women, God is the foundation of our lives, and so He would have all the answers. I greatly encourage you to find a good biblical counsellor in your healing journey.

Worship

When we take the focus off us and onto Him, we find our heart’s true fulfilment. God knows that the only thing that can truly make us happy, content, peaceful and joyful is Him, which is why He never stops pursuing us and bringing us back to Him.

Worship, and actually worship music itself, is so special and unique to us as followers of Christ (did you know that Christianity is the only religion that sings as an act of worship?), and I don’t know where I would be without the joy of worship music. When you’re down, when you’re depressed, anxious, in need of rest and healing, put on some worship music and sing, sister! Let your heart feel peace, joy and healing through worship.

Take time off

A great way to heal is to simply take some time off. Take a day, week, month (if possible) off from work or studying and heal. Delete social media apps for a season while you heal (I feel this is very important as social media can simply give us too much mental “noise” and isn’t helpful at all.)

Detox, rest, get refreshed. Tell your close friends you are in a period of healing, and need some space. Ask them to pray for you and take some time off to heal.

Be in nature

A woman I know went through one of the most horrific sufferings a mother can go through, and in her memoir, she wrote that sitting under a tree everyday, and being in nature helped her immensely. Nature is God’s creation, and being out in His creation, you will find peace, calmness, healing.

Walking too, has been proven to relief stress. Walks are my favourite way to gain clarity and peace of mind. Or you can combine three ‘healing’ activities: sit in a park and pray, journal even, for a period of time.

Whatever you may be going through right now, take heart and know that God is with you, and He is there — even when it feels like you are alone. Seek Him and let Him heal you (Matthew 11:28-29) and know that you are never, never alone: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).