Healing Heart

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Healing Heart

by Abdiel Medina

During my first semester at Lee University, my sister and I went to a Christian retreat. Each night they had a fun social event, and the last event taking place was a Flannel Dance! While students were jamming out in their flannels to music, can you guess where I—the energetic nerd and extrovert—was? Admittingly…alone. That night I was battling with emotional and spiritual struggles, and my natural reaction was to isolate myself.

It doesn’t take a counselor to know that isolating yourself while struggling is not a good idea. In those lone moments, it’s easier to be attacked and manipulated by the enemy’s lies and fall deeper into your struggles. So, I want to emphasize if you are experiencing any battles—emotional, spiritual, physical, etc.—reach out to others! Search for trustworthy adults, whether it be a parent, counselor, teacher, or pastor to talk to. You don’t have to carry your burdens alone, and ignoring your struggles won’t help either. Vulnerability has never been easy for me; however, whenever I’ve opened up, I’ve experienced God’s love, encouragement, and healing in my life. That was the case for me that night at the retreat.

I was sitting, entrapped in my personal struggles when suddenly a fellow brother of Christ—Ryan Gambill— walked by and saw me. He asked if he could sit with me, and he then began a conversation. I was inspired by his testimony, in which he shared his past struggles and gave God glory. From our conversation, he helped me focus my heart on God again, and I received a powerful reminder that I can rest and experience healing in God’s love when I open up my heart to Him. The Warrior King and Psalmist David described it beautifully: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24, NKJV).

When you’re battling struggles or wrestling with sin, being honest to God and asking for help may be

the first step it may take to experience transformation, encouragement, and healing in your life. That was the case for Moses and the Israelites. In their time of slavery and suffering, the Israelites cried out to God for help, and He sent Moses to deliver them (Exodus 2:23-5; Exodus 3:10). I pray and hope that you may open up your heart to God, experience His healing and that He may provide you with fellow brothers and sisters to help carry your burden.

About The Author Abdiel Medina is currently a writer, runner, and freshman at Lee University. Abdiel is thankful to have God in his life.