Real Love Doesn’t Ignore Wounds

When a child falls and scrapes his knee, his first instinct is to cry out to his parents. They come running to comfort him—hugging him, validating his pain—but all he can focus on is the sting. What he really wants is instant relief.

So his father carries him to the bathroom to clean the wound, pouring hydrogen peroxide on the scrape. The child reacts in anger, missing the loving intent behind it. Instead of seeing that his father is trying to help, he blames him for the pain—and even for the fall.

We often do the same with God. Our culture prefers quick fixes—covering wounds with symbolic bandaids or distractions. But real love doesn’t ignore wounds; it treats them. And that kind of healing requires permission.

Are you angry at God for trying to heal a wound you cried out for Him to fix—one you may have even caused through disobedience? Healing hurts. But once the wound is cleaned, it can heal properly—and like a thick scar, it can even come back stronger.

Change your point of view, instead of being so caught up in the emotion of the situation, take a step back and look at the big picture. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2).

If God gave you only temporary relief, the wound could worsen. And then what? Will you still blame Him for the consequences of the healing you refused?

What parts of your heart have you closed off from God for temporary comfort?

Let Him heal you now. He won’t treat your wounds harshly—He’ll give you strength and comfort through the pain.

He loves you.

And don’t give up on following Christ because of persecution, trials or hardship. Instead, hold on even tighter to Him in the midst of trials.

God hasn’t placed you in a situation you can’t endure—His Spirit dwells inside you to strengthen and comfort you. Embrace His love rather than longing for the “good old days.”

Trials aren’t just tests; they are an expression of His love, meant to deepen your faith and grow your relationship with Jesus. If you try to change your perspective, maybe you will then see that trials are what can increase faith and can open opportunities to grow in an even deeper relationship with Jesus if you let Him in.