Encouragement for Today

November 18, 2024 Give Yourself Grace To Heal BONNIE GRAY Lee en español

“So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1 (CEB)

I was terrified. “How can I work if I can’t type?” My lips quivered tearfully as pain shot through my hands. The fear of losing my job gripped me with anxiety.

My physical therapist, Tom, drew a swirl of concentric circles on a notepad. “Healing has layers, like peeling back an onion,” he said. I’d pushed through fatigue in my hands for so long that my body compensated by using other muscle groups. Pain soon spread to my arms, shoulders, neck and back.

Tom pointed out that pain was a healthy indicator — my body was speaking to me. As one muscle group healed, I began to feel pain in other areas that had been masked and also needed care.

“This is a good thing, Bonnie.” Tom smiled. “You’re going to recover.”

I realized healing would take time. God calmed my anxieties by reminding me how Jesus desires healing for me as He once did for a man who reached out to Him in the dark.

“They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’

“He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’

“Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (Mark 8:22-25, NIV).

I love how Jesus reached out for this man. The hands he had used to feel his way in the dark suddenly felt the fingers of Jesus encircling them. When worries overwhelm us, we, too, can hold on to this truth: Jesus is right beside us, holding our hand to love and guide us.

Maybe, like me, you’re used to pushing through pain — whether it’s emotional, physical or relational — in friendships, family, health or life. But Jesus doesn’t want us to stay silent. Just as friends brought the blind man to Jesus, our friends can pray with and encourage us when we reach out to them, offering us the loving touch of Jesus.

As we pray, we often ask for instant miracles so we don’t have to tell anyone we’re hurting, ask for help or take time to recover. It seemed easy enough for Jesus to heal the blind man instantly. Yet sometimes the miracle God gives us is grace right in our moments of need. Grace to take just one next step with Jesus — to do what we need to do or say what we need to say.

“So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

Your heart may feel overwhelmed with fear or worry about your healing journey. That’s OK. God gives us fresh grace for today! Ask Him for whatever you need — because He hears your prayers. He reaches out to hold you closer and love you deeper each day.

Jesus, hold and guide me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Calm overwhelm and find peace in life’s challenges using this FREE devotional: “8 Promises from God to Calm Your Anxious Soul” by soul care mentor and bestselling author Bonnie Gray. Learn to release stress using soul care, Scripture and science. Download your free devotional here now!

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2024 marks 20 years of Encouragement for Today Devotions — and we’re celebrating all year long! Head to our Facebook group to watch a special video from one of our devotion writers, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, to see what she has to say about this exciting milestone!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Hebrews 4:16, “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” (NIV).

How is God encouraging you in your journey of healing? Share with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Bonnie Gray. All rights reserved.