Walking Toward Soul Healing, One Step at a Time
By Amber Weigand-Buckley
One night I found myself in a vivid dream.
I was trying to walk, but the skin on the bottom of my foot revealed a deep gaping wound.
The pain was excruciating, but with each step I put on my brave face, kept calm and carried on. I limped forward, convinced that moving ahead was more important than taking a pause. The more I relied on my sock to hold my foot together—it was actually holding me back. This dream speaks volumes about our spiritual journey. How many of us are limping through life, nursing hidden wounds that we’re too afraid or too busy to address?
We keep moving, convinced that our purpose lies ahead, all while a “soul wound” is silently sabotaging our progress.
Maybe that wound came from someone in the church who betrayed your trust. Perhaps it was inflicted by someone who claimed to love you but was abusive instead. Or possibly your soul wound is actually something you’ve done or said that you can’t undo. The list of potential soul injuries is endless, but the impact is universal: they hinder our walk with God and with each other.
Today, I’m asking you to pause and reflect:
How are your soles? Do you have a wound lurking just below the surface?
Have you acknowledged its presence, or are you still trying to ignore the limp? Does it still transport you back to moments you’d rather forget, flooding you with dread or regret? Has it become an emotional yarn ball you can’t quite name or begin to find the loose end to untangle?
Proverbs 27:6 reminds us of the importance of addressing our wounds. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (NIV).
Sometimes, acknowledging our pain is the first step toward healing. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s necessary.
In Psalm 147:3, David shares the reality of God’s desire for whole-body healing: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV). He is our healer, but we must first bring ALL our wounds to Him—even those we may see as small and insignificant.
You see, just like you, I’ve had my share of soul wounds, and for the longest time, I thought that I was a stronger woman BECAUSE I pushed through. I wore my ability to “walk it off” like a badge of honor.
But here’s the truth: you can’t outrun pain.
It catches up, and when it does, it demands to be felt.
So, today I’m challenging you—and myself—to take off your shoes and examine your soles. As you do, reflect on the state of your soul. Are there wounds you’ve been ignoring? We must first acknowledge them and bring them to God in order to journey toward complete healing. It’s time to walk in the fullness of our purpose, not hobble around on hidden hurts. Our healing has already been paid for. (See Isaiah 53:5.)
As you read this issue of Leading Hearts I’m praying for all of the secret wounds you carry, so that you may walk into the healing freedom only our Father can give.
