“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.” –(Proverbs 14:13)
We have a picture of a clown in our home that our middle son painted when he was eight years old. It’s a simple watercolor portrait–traced in pencil and then painted with quite a bit of skill for a 2nd grader. Some of the color on the clown’s green eyes ran a bit before it dried, but it only adds to the appeal.
Anyway, I often take my Sunday afternoon nap on the futon that sits against the wall underneath the clown. Last week, I woke up looking at the painting, and noticed something I hadn’t before: the clown is smiling AND crying at the same time. That’s life, I thought–especially right now.
These days, so many moments are both happy and sad at the same time.
‘Tis a bitter sweet existence.
Clarification: I understand that questions of faith have yes or no answers; there’s no maybe in God’s kingdom. But have you ever found yourself saying, along with the father of the boy only Jesus could heal, “I do believe, Lord; help my unbelief?”–(Mark 9:22-25)
Yes, sometimes life in Christ isn’t all fresh water or salt, it can be a brackish in between. But that’s OK, because, according to the apostle Paul, crippled Christians make the best swimmers.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (emphasis mine)
Here’s to the wounded healers!
And Jesus is the biggest one of all. Hebrews chapter four tells us that Christ is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because, just like us, he experienced the ups and downs of human existence–yet was without sin. That’s why we can come to Him with confidence, knowing He will help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Like the old King James translation says, “Thou hast known my soul in adversities.” – Psalm 31:7b
There’s another place where David says God actually comes closer when times are tough and our hearts are broken. He does this in order to lift our crushed spirits (Psalm 34:18).
After all these years (our son turns 25 today!) it’s time to give the clown painting a name. From now on I’m calling him Wounded Willy. He’s happy (like a clown should be) but he’s also sad (because life ain’t always the circus).
Do you have any life scars? Maybe God could use you as a wounded healer to extend His grace to others.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
33 responses to “Wounded Healer”
Thank you, David! That’s super encouraging. Thank you for connecting with me and my blog. You’re always so encouraging!! I look forward to reading more posts from you 🙂
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You’re most welcome Thank you for reading and commenting. I enjoy your blog! My favorite post so far has been the one about your trip to the Florida Keys with your husband. Blessings.
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What an encouraging post. Thanks so much for sharing!
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I look forward to connecting more with you. Would love to chat some time.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Matthew. I, too, am a pastor who went through a divorce, and I definitely can identify with your feelings. Ministry, for me, has shifted over to teaching elementary school children music, preaching and teaching occasionally and writing this blog. Thank you for following my blog; I will check your out! Blessings.
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I can connect with this. I went through a divorce as a pastor and have become viewed by many as useless in ministry now despite the circumstances surrounding the divorce. Ministry has taken on several different forms for me, including chaplaincy, ministry of encouragement and counseling to pastors, and whatever God opens. I minister on a much more transparent level than I did prior to the collapse of life and ministry. I still deal with the pain and scars from it, but I try to let the pain and scars tell a story of God’s grace.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Manette! I will go to your blog and search for your “Beautiful Scars” post. May God Bless you, and your writing, as well.
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David, this is such a great post. The passage from Corinthians is so applicable to Christians, we can point others to Jesus the one who heals and comforts us. I think this writing resonates with many because everyone who lives has some sort of wounds.
As a person allows God to sovereignly work in their life, the wounds heal and then can become scars. Those scars can be a testimony glorifying the Father – as we comfort others with the comfort we receive from God.
Your closing question and prompt brings back to mind a post I shared with a similar theme. Beautiful Scars has remained my most viewed post. People want to find hope, healing and purpose in life. In Christ, we can receive all that and more. May Christ’s comfort continue to overflow through your writing and bless many.
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You’re most welcome, my friend. Thank you for your thoughts! Blessings.
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We are all like Willy. We smile, we love even if sadness & pain aches in our hearts although there are days when it’s pure joy and peace. Beautiful Art piece by your son, truly a treasure. God bless and stay safe my friend. Thanks for the inspiration 🙏
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That would have been my next career choice if the medical field didn’t work out. I used to be very good. Not anymore though. If you don’t use it, you lose it. 😟
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I am always grateful for your thoughts, Matcha. I’m glad this post resonates with you.
Yes, my son did enter the arts! He is currently a freelance artist and musician. Blessings.
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I agree, God uses our pain to help others. There have been many times that I have used lessons I learned from trials in life to comfort others. Had I never experienced them, I never could have helped the number of people that I did. And the scars? Too many to count.
Also, that is a really good picture for an 8 year old to have done. Did he end up pursuing the arts?
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Thanks, Pete. I sent my son this post and he only vaguely remembers painting it. It’s a good thing he DID sign it! I’m looking forward to those signed masterpieces from my grandchildren someday.
I saw you posted that the door to nursing home ministry is opening back up for you. That’s wonderful! Blessings.
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Wow great post and art work. I always tell our grandkids when they give us artwork to make sure and sign it because a only signed masterpiece has value.
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Yes, help from God, family and friends make a massive difference!!! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
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Always❤ so much love for my fellow brothers and sisters on the path❤
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Thank you. What makes this life-mixture do-able is help from God, family and friends. Admitting we can’t always handle things alone is a good first step. Your blog makes this point over and over. I enjoy your thoughts.
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Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, love is indeed a superpower! I knew you would relate to this post! God Bless.
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Yes he does use you, indeed, BG! Your blog is a testament to that. Thank you for your thoughts. Blessings.
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I love your son’s picture … and such a great analogy too. Yes, most of the time life is a mixture of both sadness and joy.
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Very nicely said.
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Happiest of birthday wishes to your son Hayden, 25, wow🎉 You know since reading my blog posts that indeed I can relate very much as a wounded healer myself. My pain is as much a gift as the times in my life that were happy. It all serves to ripen my compassionate heart and understand others on a soul level. It’s a beautiful, awe inspiring, humbling honor to assist others in their healing as a shamanic practitioner because it is the work that lifted my being. Love is a superpower. Jesus knows this well and utilized it fully. Beautiful story David. I love that Hayden’s painting now has a name. The art both my sons have crafted for me is framed and hanging up too. Enjoy your weekend my friend. Blessings always to you and yours🙏
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I have many wounds and scars! God use them and me to comfort others that are smiling outwardly and crying inwardly!
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You’re welcome 😊
Thank you, David. I’m just one beggar telling another where to find THE BREAD.
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Thank you, Deandra. I think I enjoy your blog so much because you keep it REAL. You are not shy about sharing your struggles and crediting God for His help. Blessings.
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Happy 25th birthday to Hayden 🥳
It’s just like the Lord to use us when we feel unusable. I believe it’s to help us tap into the healing/comfort He gave and to help us in the compassion department. I think too, David, that when we’re wounded, it is a form of affliction we need to be humble, and to realize how much we need Him, and others.
I love your point about crippled making the best swimmers, that is so true.
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Thanks, Jeffrey! I love your metaphor of the two old guys. Yes, this is our existence—whether we want to admit it or not. Thank God His strength is perfect! Blessings always.
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DAVID! I loved this whole thing. A lot of random thoughts banged around in my head. First came Smokey Robinson’s “Tears of a Clown.” Then, an illustration I’ve used at times. The first time I went to Atlantic city and was in a casino I saw one really old guy with an oxygen bottle pushing another really old guy in a wheelchair. A metaphor for our Christian existence, no? All of us are either the guy with the O2 or the guy in the wheelchair.
Mark 9 – a favorite verse of mine!
So many great Scripture references! I’m also reminded of Paul himself who prayed for his “thorn” to be removed. God said, “No. My strength is enough for you.” Great article today. Thank you!
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Thank you, Betty. Like your post about the dam breech at the state park, even the worst life catastrophes can be healed—at least to some extent. Our scars change us, but hopefully for the better. I like your uncle’s “bag of rocks” thought. It encourages me to have more compassion, like you said. After all, who truly knows what someone else is carrying? Blessings to you, Dan, and family.
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We all are scarred in some way. Some more than others. Hopefully, it leads to compassion for others. And we never know the load someone else is carrying. My uncle would always say, “Everybody has their bag of rocks.” We all have the power to lighten the load for someone else. The clown picture is a real treasure and is very good for an 8 year old! Enjoy your day and your family!
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As always, I appreciate your thoughts, brother. Thank you, and God Bless.
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First, happy birthday to Hayden!
Good post David which really links nicely with your previous F.R.O.G. post. It is when all is not peachy that you need to call on your faith reserves to raise a smile. Smiling when your body hurts is hard, but praising God in the midst of pain is harder still! I look down at my scarred swollen legs from years of Lymphoedema/cellulitis and I can choose to whine, but instead I thank God like Paul did for the “thorn in the flesh.” In my weakness He can do amazing things, Hallelujah! Thank you for the reminder of His provision in tough times David, may He bless you today.
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