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Suffering: A Gateway to Healing

Krista Keil

“And a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who [had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and] was unable to be cured by anyone, came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. Jesus then asked, ‘Who touched me?’ While all were denying it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you’” (Luke 8:43-45).

When I started going to counseling in 2014, it was literally the last thing I wanted to do. I worked in mental health at the time, and I couldn’t help but to be engulfed by the stigma I associated with mental health services—the insecurities, the fear, and my own self-doubt had held me back from going. But during that season of life, I knew I needed additional help and support. So, I mustered up the courage, and went.

I spent two years in intensive counseling, working through complex trauma and reshaping ineffective coping mechanisms I had developed over the years. In the end, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Those two years set the stage for the rest of my adulthood (I was 24 at the time). Counseling, coupled with my faith, a lot of time spent in prayer (specifically in Adoration), and a practicing Catholic counselor provided the grounds for the transformative healing experience I so desperately needed. I could not be more grateful for that time period. It was psychologically and emotionally challenging, but it freed me to become who I am today.

I realize not everyone has that type of experience with counseling, so if that’s you, bear with me.

The pursuit of your own healing is one of the most virtuous choices you can make.

Over the years, my personal and professional endeavors (I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling) have taught me that the pursuit of our own healing is one of the most virtuous choices we can make. For one thing, it’s scary and difficult as heck to confront your own brokenness and, therefore, requires courage. Secondly, healing is repeatedly shown to us throughout Jesus’ public ministry—it leads us toward virtuous living and the freedom of redemption.

A significant portion of the Gospels depict healing as an essential component of Jesus’s ministry. In fact, there are at least 22 accounts of Jesus performing acts of healing throughout the Gospels. This healing is revealed to us by way of miracles of restoration, the curing of illnesses and suffering, and deliverances and exorcisms.

Why is it, then, that people tend to avoid and neglect healing as a pathway to personal growth and development? I think deep down, we all know the answer: It’s because most frequently, the healing process is accompanied by suffering.

The process of healing pushes us to confront the tough stuff in our lives—the subjects we don’t like talking about, the wounds we’ve buried for years, traumatic experiences, family dynamics, and the combination of negative life experiences that creates a puzzle of broken pieces that we don’t know how to reassemble. Furthermore, the healing process forces us to come face to face with ourselves: It pushes us to acknowledge our sinful nature, including the decisions and actions we’ve made that don’t reflect the most award winning moments of our lives—and they can be hard to face.

We can see suffering and any level of healing as more of a soothing balm that propels us to be a better version of ourselves.

As someone passionate about and invested in mental health and holistic healing, I firmly believe that if we learn to shift our perspective, we can see suffering and any level of healing as more of a soothing balm that propels us to be a better version of ourselves, rather than an intimidating alleyway that we don’t want to walk down.

Although it can be daunting to begin the healing process, there’s some good news here: You aren’t alone, because we are all fellow travelers on this journey. We are all wounded beings; we all have “stuff” and messiness in our lives, and we are all trying to do the best we can. 

Healing is a lifelong endeavor that we should constantly seek; our healing journey transforms as the story of our life unfolds.

The fact of the matter is, suffering and healing are an ever-present and universal part of the human experience; every person will continue to have experiences that wound them or that feed off of preexisting wounds. It is for this reason that it’s important to remember that healing is perpetual: It’s a lifelong endeavor that we should constantly seek. Nobody is beyond healing or healed enough that they don’t need more healing. Our healing journey transforms as the story of our life unfolds.

That isn’t to say that progress doesn’t occur in healing; the point is to overcome and reconcile past hurts and to move forward in freedom. Rather, the key message here is that Jesus came to heal and restore, and even the disciples continued healing after Jesus’ death, as depicted through Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and as the disciples began building the church.

The healing stories told throughout Jesus’s life communicate a clear message: Suffering actually serves as a beacon of healing. It beckons us forward and invites us to commune with Jesus on a deeper level. This truth is exemplified through many Gospel stories, including when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, cleansed the leper, gave sight to the blind man, and healed the hemorrhaging woman, just to name a few. All of these stories depict physical sufferings that impacted people significantly throughout the course of their lives—which Jesus eradicates by way of miraculous healings. If Jesus can perform those miracles, He can heal us too.

Suffering and healing are deeply intertwined. The difference is that we must choose healing.

These Gospel stories draw a significant connection for us: Suffering and healing are deeply intertwined, and God doesn’t ask us to suffer without providing us the means to heal. That said, there is a significant distinction to be made between the two concepts. We typically don’t choose the suffering that comes to us. Healing, on the other hand, is our choice. Healing is a path that we must choose for ourselves, which is partially what makes it so challenging.

Jesus never forces healing upon us. In all of the Gospel stories, people seek healing, and then restoration comes. This is the reason I chose to begin and end this piece with the Scripture that depicts the hemorrhaging woman who touched Jesus’s cloak—because it articulates this point clearly.

While I was talking with some close friends recently, they brought to my attention episodes 4 and 5 of season three of “The Chosen,” and how these episodes beautifully portray the miraculous healing of the hemorrhaging woman:

“But Jesus said, ‘Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.’ When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 8: 46-48).

As my friends and I discussed these scenes, our conversation brought to light a few powerful points. Contrary to other healing encounters in the gospels, in this story, Jesus does not respond with, “I have healed you.” Rather, He says, “Your faith has saved you.” This statement shows that it was the woman’s doing—it was her choice to reach for Jesus; it was her action, not His. This point is further highlighted by the fact that it was not Jesus’ intent to heal the woman but, rather, her desire—and action upon that desire—by which she received healing. He says, “I know that power has gone out from me.”

On a personal note, I find one of the most powerful elements of this Scripture passage to be the description of the woman after the miracle occurred: She came forward “trembling and fell down before Him,” which indicates that she was scared—just as most of us are when we approach healing. Yet, despite her fear, she was redeemed.

Healing is possible and within our grasp—if we only reach for it.

I find this story of the hemorrhaging woman so human, so easily relatable and tangible. I consider it to be one of the more profound stories of healing in the Gospels, precisely because I can easily identify myself with this woman. I encourage you to ask yourself how you identify with this story. At the end of the day, each of us is responsible for our own healing. This story shows us that healing is possible and within our grasp—if we only reach for it.

Go, and be healed.

If you are looking for resources to begin your healing journey, I encourage you to look into the following:

A native of Colorado, Krista graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a specialization in traumatology, at Divine Mercy University. Krista has spent the last ten years working with youth and diverse populations in the non-profit sector in varying capacities, with an emphasis on mental health. Additionally, Krista has a background in international and domestic mission-based work and event coordination. Krista is passionate about helping others actualize their potential, the study of human flourishing, and the intersection of character, virtue, and leadership. Krista currently works at the Youth Leadership Foundation in Washington D.C. as the Director of Character and Mentorship. In her free time, Krista enjoys spending time outdoors, is a lover of spontaneous adventures, good cooking, and chai tea! Krista currently resides near Washington D.C. Visit her on her website or on Instagram @1iveinspired.