Whenever an object cuts through the skin deep enough to puncture a vein or artery, we bleed. The amount of blood oozing out is determined by the depth and location of the cut. If the cut is superficial, the bleeding will be minor. If a major blood vessel is cut, bleeding will be substantial.
Tiny cuts only bleed when pressure is applied; deep cuts bleed profusely. But the bottom line is that all cuts hurt – some more than others. Regardless of the magnitude of the cut, blood creates a mess and taints everything it comes into contact with.
The body’s first response is to stop the bleeding by forming clots. Before healing can begin, the body is vulnerable to bacteria – which can potentially lead to an infection.
Soon a scab appears over the cut, protecting the delicate area until new skin can permanently seal the cut.
Once the new skin forms and strengthens, the scab finally falls off. The area remains tender and still hurts when pressure is applied. In addition, the newly formed skin looks different from the rest of the skin – in colour and texture.
What happens when we get emotionally wounded?
When we get wounded in life, we bleed. The kind of blood that flows from our injured soul doesn’t only splash all over our lives, it splashes onto everything and everyone we come into contact with.
Sometimes we only stain people when we’re under pressure, other times our wounds are bleeding so profusely that our pain spills out uncontrollably and unprovoked, hurting even the people we love.
The first thing that God does when tragedy strikes is to control the bleeding. In order to do this, He sends the Holy Spirit, people and circumstances to help absorb the pain and prevent our hearts from bleeding to death.
Then, while we are still in shock and trying to piece things together, God covers us with the warm of His love to protect us from going into life-threatening shock.
He does this by giving us comfort, peace and strength to endure the pain. We are very vulnerable at this point because the enemy will try to penetrate our minds with doubts that question God’s goodness. But as long as we keep dressing our wounds daily with Scripture and prayer, we can prevent the enemy from infecting our minds.
As time passes and the wound begins to heal, a new layer of appreciation for God’s grace and mercy begins to form.
Just like the scab protecting the wound as it heals falls off, those who rushed to your side to aid you soon after your injury now fall back. This is by design.
The new tender skin must breathe and strengthen by being exposed to the elements of everyday life. Though the area surrounding the cut is still tender and hurts when pressed, it’s getting stronger by the day.
An area once wounded will never look or feel the same. The scar has to stand out to remind you that even though you felt like the pain would kill you, and the enemy tried to destroy your spirit, God covered you and carried you to a place of strength and healing.
Vimbai E. is a writer, journalist, ghostwriter and the founder of The Weight She Carries. With hundreds of articles publishing online, in print and for broadcast, her love of language and storytelling shines through every piece of writing that bears her name.