READ: EXODUS 34:6; ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12; LUKE 15:1-7; EPHESIANS 4:2

I recently adopted a rescued cat from my local animal shelter. She had been at the shelter for a long time because most people looking for a pet choose one that is more outgoing than the scared, cowering cat I met. In fact, our first meeting left me bleeding from some scratches. But when I looked into her eyes, I saw that she was merely terrified, not mean. And so, I brought her home, named her Pumpkin, and began to love on her.

Our first days together were interesting. She shivered and cowered in her homemade cardboard box bed. She refused to leave its safety. And when she met our other cat, she hissed and growled as if her life depended on scaring him away. But each time I would gently pet her soft fur, she purred louder than any cat I’d ever heard.

With time, she learned to trust again, and it was a delight to watch her blossom and show her spunky personality. I don’t know what trauma she experienced to make her so scared of people and other animals. All I know is that she desperately needed consistent love and patience for her to recover.

Anytime I’m around Pumpkin, I think about how we as humans often do the same thing. Sometimes we get hurt and we stop trusting. Sometimes we even find our own ways to “hiss” and “growl” at those around us for fear that letting them too close will only lead to more hurt.

Whether we’ve experienced betrayal, gossip, abuse, broken promises, rejection, bullying, or something else, it can be so hard to seek new relationships with others. But just like Pumpkin, we can learn to trust again by building healthy relationships with safe people—especially fellow Christians. Healthy church families, filled with people being renewed by Jesus, are so important to healing. Jesus takes our trauma seriously—that’s why we can share our hurts with Him. By the power of His Holy Spirit, we can find healing.

It might be scary, but I encourage you to reach out and find safe people who will love you, help you put a stop to anything currently hurting you, and patiently walk with you as you bring every hurt to Jesus so He can begin to heal you. Jesus, the Great Healer and the one who knows your every hurt, will be with you through it all (Matthew 28:20). • Rebecca Morgan

• What kinds of hurts have you experienced in the past? Jesus cares about your every hurt, and He can truly empathize with you because He knows firsthand what it’s like to live in our broken world (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 5:7). Consider taking some time to talk to Him about your hurts. Remember, you can be totally honest and tell Him, unfiltered, about what you’ve been through and how it has affected you. You can even tell Him about accusations that rise up in your heart against Him. He can take it. You can never exhaust His love for you.

• We all need community. We are made to walk alongside other people, especially as Christians (Genesis 2:18; Galatians 6:1-10). As you process your hurts, who are trusted people in your life you can talk openly with? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.)

• Do you know anyone who needs extra love and patience in this season as they work through their hurts? How can you love them like Jesus does? (Remember, sometimes loving well looks like setting up healthy boundaries. Who are trusted adults who can help you do this?)

• If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and especially if the situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need help doing this, who are safe people you can reach out to—such as parents, counselors, youth leaders, teachers, friends, or healthy members of a church?

• If you are not in immediate danger but need someone to talk to about hurts you have experienced or are currently experiencing, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)