Many of God's people have gaping wounds inside their hearts. Denial allows them to either checkout, so they don't have to feel the pain, or default to performance and busyness to rise above it. .
The dictionary defines denial as “an unconscious defense mechanism characterized by a refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts, or feelings.” In other words, we run to denial so we
don’t have to feel any pain. It is so heartbreaking to see the lengths people will go to to cover their pain. But God says in Jeremiah 6:14 (TLB), You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there! If we think we have, we have fooled ourselves into thinking that denial protects us from our pain. In truth, denial deepens our suffering because it worsens our wounds, causing them to grow, fester, and spread. It prolongs our pain and allows shame to take root. To cover it, the coping mechanisms kick in and continue to pile on, layer upon layer, and our problems get worse, not better. There is a saying: “We are only as sick as our secrets.” Truth-like surgery may hurt for a while, but it heals. .
Give your hurts to Jesus. Ask Him to bring to your mind any buried pain, surface any hidden hurt, and the exact circumstances that caused it. Ask Jesus – your loving Savior and Healer to help your wounded heart heal. . “‘I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,’ says the LORD." —Jeremiah 30:17 .
