More Than A Band-Aid … Good morning, Hump Day readers. I am writing a few devotions in advance since next week Al and I are off-duty—we’re hooking up the pop-up and heading UP—into the Taos mountains for relaxation, exploration, geology and wildlife. This also will include bear spray as well as our well-stocked first-aid kit which I beefed up with more band-aids from Costco. If we don’t need to use either of these emergency kits that’s a good camp-outing!

When I bought the band-aids the gal at the check-out counter asked “heading out camping?” and I laughed—how did she know?! I told her and she said “I have 6 kids and 4 grandkids so when these band-aid boxes go on sale I stock up.” And that brings me to the title of this Hump Day devotion—you knew that was coming, didn’t you?!

As a kid who grew up in a resort, band-aids and duct-tape were truly miraculous! There was always a plethora of folks who cut their hands or caught their fingers—and other places—with a fish hook. And then there’s the porcupine quills and other stuff in the great outdoors that can give ow-eees! I’m not sure how much it healed in the long run, but for their time of need, the band-aids and duct-tape really helped. As I got older, I often wondered how those simple patch-ups helped and healed, and if it made a difference for them.

Our infinite Healer, Jesus, came to mind when I was looking for a Scripture for this devotion. I found good verses and what I gleaned from those wise words was this: Jesus doesn’t just give us a band-aid and send us on our way. Jesus digs right in the roots (ouch) and heals us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yet we know that our prayers for healing don’t always go the way we think healing should happen. So, we ask the Lord ‘why won’t you heal me?’ and often we don’t get the answer we want and it leaves us with a tough struggle.

As finite humans, it’s hard to comprehend what the Infinite Lord is doing (or not doing), according to what we think should be done. And it is at this crossroads we can either choose to hang on to our faith in God or be upset and confused. When this happens, we have a perfect band-aid, but it’s not one you can get at a store—not even Costco! This band-aid is from “the inside out” patching us up through our faith, the gift God instilled in us through the Holy Spirit. Having this incredible gift helps us to believe that whatever God is doing for us will always be good.

Remember the Apostle Paul’s hip-pain? In his words we can feel his pain and yet find comfort in how he not only dealt with it but accepted God’s answer! (2 Corinthians 12:6-9 NLT)

“Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, ‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.’” 

When we’re hurting, the idea that grace heals us is hard to swallow—but there’s more! Grace is another one of God’s perfect band-aids, along with peace, mercy, forgiveness and God’s Word in the Scriptures which remind us of the promises that God is for us—he will never leave or abandon us.

God doesn’t only want to comfort us in tough issues. God’s plan is to pull us OUT of those issues so we can move forward with healing and encouragement each day and for our future. Thus, the powerful words—healed and whole—come into play. Take some quiet moments and listen to God speaking to your heart. Only God knows what you truly need to heal and to be made whole. As you listen, take off your puny band-aid and accept God’s miraculous healing band-aids. Let him do what is best within you so you can enjoy the healing and find fullness of life for your body, soul, mind and heart. AMEN.