TELL GOD WHERE IT HURTS…
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Normally, hurt is associated with some type of injury or pain. According to Psychological Today, the components of pain are emotional as well as physical.1 Primarily, the term “hurt” is linked to physical inquiry or pain, those things, which are visible to the eyes. When the question, “Are you hurt?” is asked, the inquiry is intended to discover if an individual has been subjected to bodily harm. I propose rarely or if ever, the intention is to find out the psychological or mental state of a person. If someone is seeking to know one’s mental health, the majority of the time the question asked is “Are you okay?” Or “How do you feel?” I propose if the question, “Are you hurt?” is asked with reference to one’s mental health, the response will be different from the usual questions. In relation to our mental, addressing this question takes us to a place of deeper consideration of our current state of being.
In psychology circles, a trigger is known as an intense, emotional reaction to a present behavior that reminds you of something painful from your past.2 These reactions can be manifested in a various manners. Often linked to childhood, triggers can masquerade as normal occurrences and impact how a person reacts in present day. Moreover, open wounds that need to be healed oftentimes cover for emotional triggers.3 An unresolved offense is a prime example of an ope wound. It is the experience of being hurt which drives many to the quest for healing. In essence, we want healing because of the hurt we can no longer bear. Unfortunately, many fall into the false illusion of convincing themselves of never being hurt. Therefore, the needed healing is never sought and the wound transmutes into an unexplainable irritation. Unexplainable irritations tend to become a hindrance in our ability to move forward due to its unknown origin. Likely, we just brush it off instead facing it head on. Not only are we marred by its presence, so are those who are inclose proximity.
Even if the origin of hurt is unknown, we must endeavor to take care of our heart (Proverbs 4:23). The lack of knowledge regarding the origin of hurt does not forfeit the pain experienced by the heart. We must never ignore our pains but questioned their existence. When we choose to ignore our psychological hurts, we make room for then to fester in our hearts. Over a period of time and sometimes immediately, the untended hurt affects our decisions and behaviors in an unfavorable manner. We can diligently guard our hearts by being honest with ourselves and reaching to God to heal our hurts. God awaits to lead us in the necessary steps to bring about healing in every area of our lives. Currently, do you have a secret hurt, whether the source is known or unknown? Why not make up your mind in this very moment to take it to God in prayer.
Open your heart up to the Great Physician in order that He will order your steps toward healing and victory.”_ASA
1Fogel, A. Body sense: The science and practice of embodied self-awareness. Psychological Today (Posted online April 19, 2012) 2Winch, Guy PHDEmotional First Aid: Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts, Plume; Reprint edition (2014) 3Winch, Guy PHDEmotional First Aid: Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts, Plume; Reprint edition (2014)
Chronicles of ASA 