Where Healing Truly Begins

Every woman begins her healing journey in a different place. Sometimes it starts with physical pain, other times with emotional exhaustion, fear, or simply a quiet whisper from God inviting us to slow down. Healing isn’t about being strong enough—it’s about being willing to let Christ meet us where we are.

Women often carry layers of responsibility—caregiving, work, family pressures, unspoken memories, and expectations—these can slowly affect our health in different ways. God sees every burden we carry, even the ones we’ve normalized or hidden from others.

Christ in the Middle of Our Health Story

Jesus meets us in both the spiritual and physical parts of our lives. He does not separate our souls from our bodies—He cares about all of it. When our minds are weary or our bodies weak, His compassion draws near.

Throughout this year, we will walk through the unique challenges women face. Whether it is heart health, hormones, autoimmune struggles, chronic pain, or emotional heaviness, no part of your health journey is outside God’s attentive care.

A Soft Closing Prayer

Jesus, You see my body, my mind, and my heart. As I walk this healing journey, give me courage to listen to my needs with compassion and not shame. Help me trust Your gentleness in every step. Renew my strength, restore my peace, and remind me daily that You are my Healer and my Hope. Amen.

As we begin The Healing Journey, our worship theme song is “Healer” by Kari Jobe. This beautiful song reminds us that in every season of sickness, stress, pain, or uncertainty, Jesus is our strength and our restoration. Its simple declaration — “I believe You’re my Healer” — invites us to rest in the truth that Christ is near, He is faithful, and He is gently healing our bodies, minds, and hearts.

Jesus saved the world at 3 mph, a walking pace.

A dear friend recently sent me the above sentence which she read in the introduction for a documentary film Godspeed. As I contemplated this thought I was convicted to slow down my pace even more. Before long a blog column was born…

Our world has most of us living at breakneck speeds. Jobs; families; children; church and school activities; hobbies; groceries; chores; cooking… With all this who has time to rest much less contemplate God’s goodness and purpose for our lives.

When we look at world history and the pace at which most cultures have lived, it’s only within the last 100 years or so that family and personal lives began to get overcrowded with outside distractions. With the invention of steam power for boats and trains, followed by automobiles, airplanes and computer technology, life for the average person has gotten complicated at an exponential rate.

Since beginning my Benedictine Oblate path in 2012, I’ve come to understand my need to slow down and simplify my life. It’s not something that happens overnight to be sure. Life didn’t get complicated and cluttered in one day and it isn’t going to get simplified in one day either. But just like most things, as we take baby steps each day towards our goal eventually we will see improvements.

One thing that helps me is to keep strong boundaries on my use of media and devices. Apple’s iOS 12 update has a new feature which allows you to put time limits on your apps. I implemented it immediately and have already seen great results. By limiting screen time I’m able to be more in the present moment; to recognize God’s Presence in my life; to be present to my surroundings, to myself, my husband and my dogs. By limiting, and in some cases removing, media distractions I’m able to focus more on the things that are important to me. To enjoy learning because I can remember more of what I’m reading. Then I’m able to share more with you.

God doesn’t want our life to be lived numbed out from one media device to the next, never having personal relationships with Him or anyone else. But He isn’t going to come in our living room and hide the TV remote or change our device passwords. It’s up to us to discipline ourselves. Let’s look at Jesus’ example. Let’s slow down our pace. The next time you’re outside, stop. Take sit down and just look at the clouds, listen to the birds and soak up the breeze. You’ll be surprised how energized you will be afterwards.