Recovering from pain

It is difficult to recover from hurt, pain and loss.

Here's what I know:  it is a process.

Time does not heal all wounds, but we do need time to process our pain in a positive and healing way.

It is a process.

Henri Nouwen writes that our "healing is not a straight line."

I agree.

Many times our hurt and pain is so deep that it is almost impossible to connect the dots to complete healing.

Setbacks and regressions are part of the healing process.

My word of encouragement to you today? 

When you experience a set back in the healing process, don't say to yourself, "All is lost.  I have to start all over again."

That is not true.  What you have gained, you have gained.

What are the factors that gain cause us to "take a step backwards"?

Fatigue.  A hurtful remark.  A cold shoulder.  A forgetfulness of your pain (howbeit innocent).

When all of that comes together, you can feel like you are right back to where you started.

I would suggest that when you feel like you have been pulled (or forced) off of the road (to freedom), return to the place where you left, not where you started.

Nouwen writes, "try to return home, to the solid place within you, immediately."

And in everything, keep trusting that God is with you, that God is your companion on the journey.

And...keep returning to the road to freedom.