DAILY DEVOT IONAL 23

Sam Jo, Cross Keys Church

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

DEVOTIONAL REFLECTION

As I reflect on my own journey of healing, I realize that healing is rarely instant. It’s a journey— sometimes long, sometimes painful, but always guided by grace. Often, we long for wounds to disappear, for scars to be erased, and for brokenness to be undone. Yet, in Scripture, we see a different picture. The wounds of Christ did not vanish after His resurrection. He showed His scars to His disciples, not as a sign of defeat, but as proof of victory.

Our healing may not always look like what we expect. Sometimes, God does not remove our struggles but redeems them, using our pain to bring peace, just as Jesus' suffering brought salvation. Perhaps the greatest healing is not the absence of wounds but the transformation of our wounds into a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

During this Lenten season, as we walk toward the cross, may we remember that healing is not just about restoration but about redemption. Just as Christ’s wounds brought life to the world, God can use even our deepest wounds to reveal His grace and bring healing to others.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How have you seen God work through a painful or difficult season in your life?

2. What wounds in your life might God be transforming into a testimony of healing?

3. How can you extend Christ’s healing love to someone who is struggling today?

CLOSING PRAYER

Loving God, thank You for the healing that comes through Christ. Help me to trust You in the midst of my wounds, knowing that You are working all things for good. Teach me to see my scars not as signs of brokenness, but as reminders of Your faithfulness. Use my journey of healing to bring comfort and hope to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

"There Is a Balm in Gilead"