"What You Do Not Feel, You Do Not Heal!"

I was watching a sermon the other day when Minister DeVon Franklin said to the congregation, “What you do not feel, you do not heal.” At that very moment, it was as if the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Kandi, my children are hurting but acting like everything is okay." I began having a vision of a person with open wounds, working as if nothing was wrong.

So many of us are afraid of admitting that we need help. Many of us were raised in environments where asking for help made you look weak, inferior, or a burden. Even in the Christian faith, if you say you are going to therapy or taking medication to deal with things such as depression or anxiety, you may be judged or criticized. You might be told something like, "If you truly believe, then you will not need therapy. If you truly believe you are healed, you won’t need medication." I beg to differ.

Medication was made by God.

1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV): 

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Friends, please understand the times! During Jesus's time, wine was used for many reasons, one being medical. It was likely used as an anesthetic to dull pain.

Another example of medication in the Bible:

Luke 10:30-37 (ESV):

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Seeking wise counsel is a biblical practice.

Proverbs 11:14:

Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

The Apostle Paul is another great example of a biblical counselor. He said,

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12:

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

When people make comments such as, "Where is your faith?" it can cause even more confusion in those who want to seek help, making them feel inadequate. They may feel their faith isn’t strong enough to receive healing. They might think something is wrong with them because they can’t receive this healing from God. Don't get me wrong, deliverance is a real thing, and yes, sometimes God can completely remove depression, anxiety, or mental illness in just one altar call. Sometimes, however, He allows you to go through a process, and that process may include therapy and medication.

I don’t write this blog as a medical professional; I write it as a woman who was delivered from depression and anxiety, a person God saved from suicide. I want you to know that it is possible to be free from these things. Unfortunately, my freedom did not come from one altar call. It came from battling in both the spiritual and physical realms. It came from realizing I needed help in both areas. This meant therapy and medication at one point. God took me through a process.

 

 

Let’s look at three things needed to begin your healing season:

BELIEVE - In order to be healed, you must involve God in every aspect and believe He is capable of healing you. You must be able to imagine yourself on the other side of healing.

ASK - Realize that admitting you need help is a sign of strength. To be healed, you have to be passionately committed to finding resources to assist you in your recovery. If you had a broken leg, wouldn’t you seek out a doctor to put a cast on it? Continue to seek God regarding your healing just as you would check in with the doctor about your broken leg.

RECEIVE - Seek out help not only in the spiritual realm but also in the physical. This may involve reaching out to wise counsel or a therapist. You must be willing to clean out your emotional closet. Many of us, instead of dealing with things, have basically put things into our emotional closet. After years of pushing things into this closet, it is now bursting open. What you do not feel, you do not heal.

As a Christian minister and coach, I encourage you to embrace the journey of healing, allowing God to be your guide. Remember, you are not alone, and seeking help is a testament to your faith and strength.