“Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not “How can we hide our wounds, so we don’t have to be embarrassed,” but “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” When our wounds cease to be a source of shame and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.” 
 

The leper who was healed and came back to thank Jesus is sent on by him – “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19). Out of the empathy and compassion born of his own experience of suffering and social isolation he is now able to go out and to be a source of healing for others.

We suffer from many wounds in life—physical suffering, addictions, depression, and anxiety. We may suffer the scars of experiences like grief, divorce, abortion, or exclusion because of our race, gender, or sexual orientation. All too often, we are ashamed of our wounds instead of seeing that as we journey with Christ and find healing, our wounds may become a source of grace for others who are struggling.

The experience of our woundedness gifts us with compassion and understanding of the sufferings and frailties of others. We have known our own needs and our dependence on God and others, and this gives us humility in accompanying others on their journeys of suffering in life. Our woundedness takes away our arrogance and judgement, and we become safe harbours for others in the storms of their own lives.

So often, the experience of having lived through something painful helps us to be present to someone else struggling in a similar situation and to understand at a depth that we would not have otherwise been able to.

Being a wounded healer is part of what God calls us to. Healing from our wounds is never about us alone. Instead, it equips us to minister to others. In this, there is an experience of redemption for our suffering. Though painful (and its scars always remain), our wounds can now become a source of life and hope for others.

What are the wounds in your life that God has healed and made you a wounded healer for others? 

Gracious God,
May the wounds I have experienced
gift me compassion towards others who suffer. 
May my wounds become a source of healing for others.

Amen.