When You Need to Uncover Your Hurt

Hiding my hurt, well, it’s a weakness. I can’t. My face will not do what I tell it to do. Some of ya’ll know what I’m talking about.

My heart won’t obey either. It aches even when I list my blessings. Sometimes focusing on the things I’m thankful for helps, but the hurt still lingers. I’m learning that if you don’t deal with the pain, the hurt will resurface at the most inopportune times.

Hiding the hurt

Even though I’m usually terrible about hiding my hurt, sometimes I’ll bury it as deep as I can because I am afraid. I’m afraid I’m wrong, or I might hurt the one who caused the ache in my heart.

The other day I was nursing a wound that had been festering for weeks. I didn’t want to whine about it, so I’d stopped talking about it. I really didn’t want to take the chance of sharing it with anyone in case they took the other person’s side, and I really just wanted to forgive and forget and move on. But I was stuck.

If we leave hurt hidden, it will grow into bitterness.

I didn’t want to stay stuck in this yuck. So, I did what always brings me the most healing when I’m hiding something deep inside. I knew who I could tell my deepest, darkest secret and pain. Who would silently listen and not take sides.

My journal.

Actually I wrote down a prayer to God laying all my mess on the lined paper. It absorbed the weight of the ink and sadness and listened. And so did my heavenly Papa.

Uncovering Hurt in Prayer

I’m not sure why I feel so much better after I journal. It may be a word-person thing; I know not everyone is the same, and some of you hate the “j” word. But my journal has never failed to make me feel better. The best part about it is my hurt is no longer hidden. I’ve put it out there on the page for God and all heaven to read.

The healing hasn’t been miraculous, but I’ve uncovered the wound by giving it to God in prayer. The journal has made it tangible. I’ve taken the first step to healing. Now I wait on God to reveal what’s next.

Maybe He’ll uncover what’s broken in me that triggered the hurt, or maybe He will give me the gracious words I need to share with the one who caused the pain. Time and space can be a good thing. It’s okay to wait before you try to fix the problem.

What Ruth uncovered

As we continue our Bible study on the book of Ruth, our Hebrew word was Galah. In the simplest meaning this word means to reveal, uncover, or expose. It’s what Naomi tells Ruth to do after Boaz lies down on the threshing floor. That’s where we’re starting this week, but we’re going to let God do some uncovering for us of anything that needs to be exposed for healing, for truth, for life. If you’re following in the Ruth Bible study book, we’re on Day 19. If not, here’s a Bible reading plan printable for you to use this week.

Bite of Bread Printable

Ruth 3:4:  ‘When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

Prompt: This sounds terrifying to me. There’s so much going on here than our translations tell. Ruth’s actions will take guts. She’s about to uncover a sleeping man and lie down next to him in the dark. Why do you think she is willing to follow Naomi’s instructions? Is there anything we can learn from her willingness?

Hebrews 4: 12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (They can’t be hidden.)

Prompt: Have you ever been reading the Bible and felt convicted? The Word does that. Yet God’s conviction, His uncovering, brings healing. His conviction cuts out the oozing infection of bitterness, or heals the wounded unforgiving heart empowering it with grace to forgive. Write down a prayer for forgiveness or healing if the Word has revealed anything today.

Bite of Bread Printable! Yes, please!

Hebrews 4: 13: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Prompt: We can’t hide anything from God. Last week we talked about being known and loved by him. God hates sin because it destroys us. Are you trying to hide anything? Journal about it. Putting it on paper is the first step to let it out of the darkness so that the light can heal it. You are loved.

John 8: 3-6: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Prompt: You probably know the rest of the story. No man threw a stone at this woman. Who do you relate to in this scripture? What is Jesus revealing to you?

Print Me!

Hebrews 4:14: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,^[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Prompt: Are you confident when you pray? Why? What does this scripture passage promise?

Wednesday Night Live

Can you join me this week on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM ET? I’ll be LIVE on Facebook (Lord willing). Just follow me on Facebook and hang out on my timeline around 7:30 to join our virtual Bible study. I also post it on my YouTube channel. Subscribe an follow to get the notifications of a new video. We’re going to dig deeper in the book of Ruth and the story of the adulterous woman brought to Jesus. I believe you will be encouraged.

I want to pray for you

Hold my hands. “Lord, you know all things, but sometimes we try to hide our hurts, our wounds, our sin. I pray for freedom this week. You came to set the captives free, and many of us live captive to unforgiveness, bitterness, and disappointment. I pray that we would give this pain to you. Write it down, pray it up, release it to you for your wisdom, healing, and grace. Thank you, Jesus. We love you. Amen.

Spend some time journalin. It’s so good to write down our heart’s true feelings and needs to God. Let Him have your hurt and your heart.

Much love,

Andy

PS. If this was encouraging, and you don’t want to miss any Bite of Bread reading plans and posts, subscribe today! You’ll receive a 22-Day Devotion on Psalm 119 called Finding the Beauty {Full} in God’s Word.Just click here to dig deep to live fully. 🙂