May I ask you a hard question today? Is there a painful memory in your past? Most of us have at least a few. It could be as the result of a family argument or someone who coerced you to do something you didn’t want to do.
Mine occurred over five years ago. At the time, I worked for a man who really took advantage of his status over me me and used me to do some awful things… although it was all cloaked in an air of doing good things, which made it so much worse. Sometimes the painful memories are sparked by a fleeting thought, or a phrase, or an image.
Thankfully, by God’s grace, I believe I’ve gotten over most of it. I’ve forgiven him and moved on. But there was a season where just the thought of those situations would raise my blood pressure or quicken my breathing. It was very painful. Have you been there? Are you there now?
They say time helps to heal all wounds. While time does put distance between you and the hurt, I believe only God can bring complete healing.
Only God can bring physical healing. Only God can bring spiritual healing. Only God can bring emotional healing. There is a name in the Old Testament for God as healer: Jehovah Rapha. The original context for this is during the Exodus of the Hebrews out of Egypt. They came upon springs of water to quench their thirst, but the water was bitter. Moses took a tree branch and threw it into the water and, by a miracle of God, the waters became sweet… the waters were healed.
Exodus 15:26 says that the LORD will be the healer for all of the people of Israel:
He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.
The LORD is our healer. Only He can restore beauty where there were scars. Only He can bring wholeness where there is brokenness. Only He can rebuild what was destroyed.
In Matthew 8 and 9, and in Mark 6, as the news of Jesus spread throughout the towns and villages, well people brought sick people to Jesus. And the Word says: all who touched him were healed. (Mark 6:56)
Are you sick today? Physically? Or maybe you are sick of being tormented by a painful memory? Would you come to Jesus and let him touch you and let him heal you? He IS our Jehovah Rapha… God our healer.
Oh, and the healing? It may not be quick. It may not be easy. You know, a good surgeon gives careful post-operative instructions to his patients about the healing course of action. It may take quite awhile, but you can talk with the Healer today and begin the process. He is here to heal… physically, emotionally, spiritually. He is our Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.
(c) 2012 Rich Ronald.
RichRonald.com 
Rich – although it saddens me to remember those days for you, I rejoice in our Jehovah Rapha who is so faithful. Thank you for the reminder today – He has graciously healed our family of many things, redeemed the years the locusts had eaten, and brought joy where there was sadness. Where would we be without the Love of God?? lost… very lost. blessings to you, bro!!