Gladly Woundable

Have you ever been injured? Emotionally or physically?

I have. And let me tell you. Being gladly woundable is a phrase that used to NOT sit well with me.

The idea of being gladly woundable comes from the idea that we as Christians can be thankful for the trials that we go through.

So often in our lives we are hurt. News flash: we are broken people, living in a broken world. Sin is literally all around us. Hurt is a non-negotiable. But how we approach this hurt is the kicker.

We can choose that this is a fallen world and we can sulk around all day and be depressed.

Or,

We can be Gladly Woundable.

This is a mindset more than anything else.

So, how in the world can we approach such horrible things that happen to us with a mindset that we are glad to go through them? It starts with Jesus. James tell us to “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3.

“The testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

How many times have you looked back after a season of trials, possibly years down the road, and seen the work that God was doing? When we are in the midst of our struggle, it is very hard to recognize that THIS IS FOR US.

The struggles we go through are not CAUSED by God, but ALLOWED by God. He uses our struggles to show His grace and His power through us, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).

When we are on the other side of tribulation, it is easy to see how God shaped the events and made all things come together for good. It is easy to see that Gods hand was on every little thing.

If its so easy to recognize Gods work after we are out of the struggle, why would we choose to not have faith in Him during it?

When the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, a large storm came about. They cried to Jesus, who ultimately calmed the storm and said to them “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40.

I often think to myself “how could the disciples not trust that they would be okay when their God is right there with them?” Countless times He has shown them not to worry. From feeding the 5 thousand with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, to calming the storm and everything in between.

God is always with the disciples and all they need to do is put their trust and faith in Him and they can literally walk on water. Until they start to doubt, and then down they go.

Why do we not choose to be gladly woundable when we face trials? We know for a fact that our God is in control. We know for a fact that whatever happens, is for our good. We know for a fact that God will not abandon us in our trial.

So we can CHOOSE to be gladly woundable, and say “yes this is hard right now. But I know that God is doing a work in me because of this and when I come out the other side victorious, His glory will be undeniable and my story will be used to make a difference.”

This is a mindset.

It is not an easy one.

But we should all choose to put our trust in Him. The storm may be raging, the waves may be crashing all around you, but our God is bigger. And we know that there will be great rewards for us on the other side.

Be gladly woundable. We grow through, what we go through. Embrace it!