He Will Heal Us

Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.

Hosea 6:1

AT TIMES GOD allows his people to suffer deeply. Sometimes it’s a result of their own sins. But sometimes it’s because they’ve been faithful and the world hates them and persecutes them. Either way, how we bear suffering can lead others to the one who suffered for them.

Some years ago, Gracia Burnham and her husband were kidnapped by Islamists in the Philippines. They were missionaries at the time, laboring in a foreign land, faithful to their calling. Yet they were taken captive, and in the end, Gracia’s husband, Martin, was killed in the firefight in which she ultimately gained her freedom.

Gracia now travels the world telling the story of her capture and loss. She also speaks about how God blessed her and her husband’s ministry through the pain they suffered. Many people have heard her testimony in churches in every corner of the globe, and many have become Christians as a result—many Christians have been moved to deepen their commitment to God as well. Gracia tells her audiences that though she lost her dearest friend in the kidnapping, God remains close and has blessed her in numerous ways. She has experienced comfort and renewal, and she looks forward to seeing her husband in heaven.

In this verse, God promises that even the deepest pain and suffering are only temporary. In time, he will repair all the damage done and re-create something even more beautiful than before.