God, Heal My Wounds
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
Psalm 34:18-19
Focus text: 2 Samuel 13: 1-22 NLT
The name Tamar means “Palm Tree,” signifying fruitfulness.
The name Absalom means “His Father’s Peace.”
The name Amnon means “Faithful, Stable.”
None of them answered their names.
Lessons from Tamar
Virgin: innocence and purity. Hurts and wounds are often the result of situations that are not our fault.
Violated: Her brother was supposed to protect her. He took advantage of her innocence, weakness, willingness to serve, and love.
Warped sense of love: definition of love was perverted. Amnon lusted after her. He didn’t love her. The Bible says that God is love. Love protects, is patient, and is kind.
Uncovered: Where was David? Why is he an absentee dad? Why did he send Tamar to Amnon? Tamar is left to fight for herself. She went to Absalom not David afterwards. Does he feel shame because of his own sin?
Rejected: She was a princess in the kingdom who was defiled and rejected.
Silenced: Sometimes we feel like there’s no point in sharing our story. The stigma and shame is released when it’s no longer a secret. “We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” Revelation 12:11”.
Desolate: Her wound became her identity. She is known for what happened to her. That’s a sign that we’re not healed. If people know you as the woman who was abused, neglected, violated, abandoned, etc. instead of who Jesus died for you to be, there is an unhealed wound.
Results of wounds
Warped perspective of family: Is family reliable?
Fatherhood issues: Will God cover, protect, and provide for me?
Value: What is my worth?
Bitterness: Negative outlook on life; consistently believe the worst in others
Doubt: If this happened to me, is God still sovereign and good?
Insecurity: I’m damaged. How can I be useful?
Defensiveness: Attack first before being attacked; you won’t hurt me again
Anger: Strong feeling of displeasure which can lead to bitterness; angry at God; angry at person who hurt us
Depression: Sense of hopelessness
Anxiety: If this happened to me, then (fill in the blank) could happen.
Boundary issues: Inability to set healthy boundaries
Orphan mentality: I will take care of myself because no one else will.
The Source of Healing
Jesus: pure, betrayed, silenced, longed for Father’s comfort
He heals every hurt.
Through the line of David, we received Jesus.
“But He was (A)wounded[a] for our transgressions, He was [b]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, And by His (B)stripes[c] we are healed” Isaiah 53:5.
Healing doesn’t mean you won’t have scars.
Jesus still has scars. He was not a victim of the cross, but a victor over sin and death.
His scars remind us that every sin has been nailed to the cross, never to be resurrected again.
God I forgive_________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
for_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I identify and release the following emotions/responses as a result of the hurt(s) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I repent for trying to heal myself instead of allowing you to heal me.
Thank you for my healing, freedom, and wholeness in Jesus’ Name!
Resource: 21 Day Inner Healing Journey: A Personal Guide to Healing Past Hurts and Becoming Emotionally Healthy by Jimmy Evans