By Melissa McLaughlin
The knife thudded firmly against the cutting board. My hands moved rhythmically as I sliced raw carrots and tossed them into the bowl. The bright orange carrots accented the vibrant salad greens and juicy red tomatoes already prepared. My mouth watered as I imagined the fresh garden flavors we would enjoy for dinner.
My mind drifted as I worked. Suddenly, the knife slipped.
“Ow! Oh, no! God, help me!”
Blood gushed from my left forefinger. Sharp, stabbing pain pulsed. I grabbed a bunch of paper towels by the sink. Using my other hand, I wadded them around my finger and applied pressure. The rapid blood flow continued saturating the now red paper towels.
After a few minutes, I knew this wound required stitches. Gratefully, my daughter was home. She drove me to the nearest urgent care facility. The medical staff swiftly cleaned the wound, stitched me up, and sent me on my way.
Though now fully healed, the scar remains on my finger.
I thank God for His protection, because the injury could have been much worse. I am grateful to God for His provision, through the help of my daughter and the medical staff. Praise God, I experienced healing and can use my finger successfully for daily tasks.
Though the cut went deep and caused great pain, the scar reminds me of God’s blessings through it all.
As we look ahead to a new year, recalling God’s faithfulness in the past helps frame our mindset for the future. One way to remember God’s faithfulness is through our healed wounds. We also benefit from committing these past hurts to the Lord and seeking continued healing and growth.
Our wounds may take many forms—physical, emotional, relational, financial, spiritual.
May God give us spiritual eyes to see His hand working all things together for our good.
Would you join me in prayer for healing and revival in the new year?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. You have proven your immeasurable love for us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Thank you, Jesus! Holy Spirit, refine our spiritual vision as we recount God’s faithfulness in the past and set our minds on Christ in the future.
This year, help us place ourselves fully into your Master Potter’s hands. Lord, we recall the greatest good is to be carved into the image of Christ.
Bring healing to our wounds, Abba Father. Comfort us with the salve of your Scripture and Spirit. Let us embrace our suffering Savior, who did not stand back from His creation, but He came for us. Help us rest our weary souls in your everlasting arms.
Father God, we place our past hurts at the foot of the cross. We surrender to you the apologies we never received, the heartbreak that went unnoticed, the struggles, silent tears, and cries known only to you. From the pain we have endured, we pray you enlarge our hearts with greater compassion, wisdom, and grace.
May we yield to your divine touch, chiseling and chipping away those things that keep us from Jesus. Reshape us. Revive us. Refresh us with your love, Jesus. Renew us, Holy Spirit, as we soak in your Word. Make us new creations aglow with the glory of Jesus’ healing and redeeming blood. In His name, amen.
May God bless you and your families in the new year!
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV) – Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) – For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 40:29 (NIV) – He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Update For My Readers!
I am excited to announce that my book, The Whole Bible Devotional, is available for pre-order on Amazon! Click here to pre-order.
The e-book releases soon, as well. I will keep you posted.
The official paperback book launch date is January 21, 2025. You should receive pre-orders on or near January 21, 2025.
Please pray for me, for all who are helping, and for all who will read this book. May Christ be exalted! May many draw near Him! May God be glorified!
Thank you all for your kindness and support. I am so grateful for you! God bless you!
Amen to this! (And I’m grateful your cut wasn’t worse!) You are so right that one way to remember God’s faithfulness is through our healed wounds. We have wounds that many people can’t even see, but God knows they’re there, and so do we. I’m so grateful for His holy healing. I know it’s ongoing!
Thank you, Jessica! I’m thankful, too! You’re right, God brings holy healing. I once read how God can heal our memories. It’s not that we forget past hurts, but He heals us so the memories don’t hurt us the way they used to. It’s definitely an ongoing process. Imagine, through Christ one day, we will be totally healed of everything!
Reflecting and remembering the faithfulness of God brings peace and calm. Thank you for this message. Happy New Year dear friend! 🙂
Happy new year, Melissa! God brings healing and hope as we rest in Him. We are blessed! May the Lord overflow your heart with His love, joy, and peace!
I remember having my triple-heart-by pass in 2019 and looking in the mirror and saying out loud, “I look like Frankenstein.” A nurse heard me and came to the bathroom and assured me I did not. I am grateful for her kind words. Now that it has been over 5 years, I rarely notice my scars. I am grateful that my daughter had listened to my symptoms and said, “Mom! You’re having a heart attack!” She immediately took me to the hospital and it went from there. The hospital I went to prayed over all of their patients as well as before a procedure. Thank You, Lord, for permitting me to go through all I did as I can use what happened to me to help others. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. – Amen!
Chebba, thank you for sharing this powerful story of healing. That must have been so frightening. Thank GOD, your daughter was there, listened to your symptoms, and rushed you to the hospital! What a kind nurse to reassure you when you first saw your scars. To think that 5 years later, you hardly notice the scars. God heals us on so many levels. Praise God! He used your daughter, the medical staff, and their prayers to bring healing and restoration! Now your testimony is a blessing to others. Our God is so good! Many blessings to you and your family in the year ahead!
Heal me Lord, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved.
Thank you Father for healing and salvation in Jesus.
Amen. Those words revive my heart when I read that Scripture. God is a great Healer.
So glad the wound all heal but such situations do show us how God cares for us. He is our healer no matter the injury. Thanks for sharing Melissa
God graces us with so many gifts. Healing is a huge blessing. And yes, we can reflect and see His tender loving care. God bless you, Yvonne!