[Music] my beloved friends I want to speak to you today about a special group of people a group that includes some of you or perhaps even all of you listening right now these are the chosen ones who went through some of the most painful trials life could throw at them and yet yet by the grace of God and through their own persistent Faith they have emerged on the other side as Healers of the people when I say healers I don't necessarily mean medical doctors or therapists though it could include those roles I'm referring to those
Souls called by God to bring hope encouragement and renewal to others the ones who after walking through through their personal Valley of the shadow of death have discovered that their scars now carry a holy purpose it could be the woman who survived an abusive marriage and now counsels other women in similar circumstances it could be the man who after battling addiction helps others find Freedom it could be the couple who lost a child and now bring Comfort to grieving parents these are the chosen ones and if you're listening today suspecting that you too have journeyed
through your own personal hell so you might turn around and help someone else find a way out then I believe this message is for you many of us in middle age have faced storms that younger folks might never imagine by the time you hit 40 50 or 60 you probably endured heartbreak disappointment betrayal some crisis of faith that left you feeling raw and uncertain you might have gotten laid off after two decades of loyal service you might have watched your marriage crumble or your child stray far from the values you tried to instill you might
have stood at the bedside of a loved one who slipped from this life leaving you stunned and broken and maybe the hardest part was that you tried to do everything right you prayed you showed up to church you did your best to live an honest life and still suffering came knocking at your door for some people these trials become a wedge that drives them away from Faith they grow bitter resentful and hardened telling themselves if God really cared he wouldn't have let me go through all that but for others those I call the chosen ones
these storms become the refiner fire that shapes them into vessels of compassion and power it's not that they never wrestled with anger or doubt on the contrary they might have cried out in the night why me Lord how could you let this happen but somewhere along the journey a seed of Faith held on a small spark refused to die and in that spark God planted the beginning of a mighty calling you are going to help others who walk this same road you are going to be their lighthouse in the storm you are going to show
them that healing is possible now I want to reassure you that if this resonates with you you don't have to have your life all perfectly sorted out you might still have questions you might still have scars that ache from time to time you might still be learning what it means to trust God in the dark but you sense a stirring in your spirit something that says I went through that trial for a reason I survived for a reason I have a testimony and maybe just maybe God can use it I want to encourage you to
lean into that voice because I believe it is indeed the Holy Spirit calling you to a higher purpose let's face it life can be downright brutal people can be cruel illnesses can rob us of Vitality financial crisis can leave us feeling helpless and betrayals can leave us disillusioned but here's something we often overlook the greatest Saints and healers throughout history were rarely pampered or cushioned from Pain look at the prophets of old look at the disciples look at modern-day pastors teachers and counselors who have borne tremendous fruit more often than not you'll find a backstory
drenched in tears and heartbreak why because a person who has never tasted sorrow or despair may have a hard time truly ministering to those who are in the depths of it but when you've gone through your own personal hell you carry an empathy and Authority that can't be faked you know what it feels like to lie awake at night consumed by anxiety or grief you know the sting of betrayal you know the silence that sometimes follows your most desperate prayers and because you know you can stand beside a hurting person and say I understand and
truly mean it sometimes we hear the term chosen ones and we imagine people who are perfect sinless or obviously gifted but the Bible shows a different picture think about David the shepherd boy turned King before he fought Goliath he fought private battles in the fields protecting sheep he was overlooked by his own family when the prophet Samuel came to anoint the next king later in life he sinned with bath Sheba and orchestrated her husband's death yet David was still called a man after God's Own Heart why because even in his flaws he was repentant and
real or think of Joseph the dreamer sold into slavery by his jealous Brothers wrongfully accused and thrown into prison he could have grown bitter he could have lost faith instead he held on to God and in time he became second in command in Egypt saving countless lives from famine Joseph's betrayal and suffering were the crucible that prepared him for his Destiny and so it goes for many who who answer that Divine call if you're a middle-aged believer who's walked with the Lord for years you may have wrestled with the question God why did you let
me go through such heartbreak or if you're new to Faith you might be wondering is there any meaning to the wounds I've carried for so long let me be transparent I don't claim to have all the answers some sometimes life's pain is simply beyond our understanding yet I've seen enough to know that God can take even the most devastating experiences and weave them into a tapestry of redemption he can birth Ministries out of misery he can use what was meant for evil to bring about good and often he uses people like you who have emerged
from the fire not necessarily unscathed but forged into something stronger and more compassionate The Calling To Be A Healer is not about placing yourself on a pedestal proclaiming I've mastered life's problems so let me fix you no it's about humility it's about saying I've been where you are and I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for God's grace let me walk alongside you as you find your way too it's about being a wounded healer someone whose own injuries become a source of empathy and strength I want to acknowledge something important some of you might
still be in the thick of your trial you're not quite on the other side yet and you might be thinking how can I possibly help anyone else when I'm still drowning that's a valid question my friend don't rush yourself there is a time to heal to rest to let your own wounds be tended before you extend your hand to others but even in that raw Place God can speak to your spirit preparing you for the day you'll turn around and say brother sister I know exactly how this feels and here's how God sustained me sometimes
your healing and someone else is healing can happen in tandem as you share and pray for one another so don't disqualify yourself just because you're still walking through the valley sometimes that's exactly where God meets us and shapes us for future service the enemy doesn't want you to embrace your healing mantle he'd rather you stay silent feeling inadequate he'd rather you keep replaying your trauma convinced you'll never be fully free but let me remind you if you are in Christ you have authority over the enemy's lies being a chosen healer means you look back at
your darkest moments and realize that those moments carved out a well in your soul a space that could be filled with compassion empathy and understanding and because of that well you can pour water into someone else who's parched and desperate for hope you might even see glimpses of God's hand in your story orchestrating events or sending people who helped you along preparing you for this very moment when you can do the same for someone else that's the beauty of redemption it doesn't erase what happened but it transforms it I recall a man who struggled with
drug addiction for years he lost jobs relationships and nearly his life when he finally surrendered to Christ found a solid program and got clean he said something that struck me I hate the pain I caused and I wouldn't wish my journey on anyone but I wouldn't trade the empathy I now have for other addicts I see them and I know exactly how they feel I know the desperation the excuses the shame and I also know that freedom is possible that man became a living example of what it means to be a chosen one who went
through hell to become a Healer he didn't hide his story out of embarrassment he shared it to set others free you see being a chosen one who has gone through hell to become a Healer is both a privilege and a challenge it's a privilege because you get a front row seat to some of the most miraculous transformations in people's lives you see light break into darkness you see hope replace despair you see families restored you might witness someone's heart thawing after years of cold bitterness but it's also a challenge because you'll encounter resistance spiritual attack
and heartbreak yet in the midst of it all you'll experience a profound sense of purpose you'll know that your life counts for something beyond your personal Ambitions you'll be part of a Divine story that spans Generations weaving countless lives together let's talk for a moment about the holy spirit's role in all this we sometimes forget that the same Spirit who empowered the apostles at Pentecost dwells in us that means we're not relying on our our own limited capacity to love or heal we're channels of his grace When you pray for someone it's not just your
words that matter the Holy Spirit can flow through you guiding your prayer touching that person's heart in ways you can't see when you speak words of encouragement the Holy Spirit can amplify them so they strike deep into someone's spirit when when you share your testimony the spirit can break chains that logic or persuasion never could so don't underestimate the supernatural aspect of this calling embrace it ask the spirit to fill you daily ask him for words of knowledge wisdom and discernment as you minister to people you might be surprised at how he leads you perhaps
giving you insight into some one's pain or directing you to a scripture that speaks exactly to their need now I want to assure you of something God sees you sometimes healers feel invisible focusing so much on others that they wonder if anyone cares for them but the Lord watches he knows your tears your sacrifices and your exhaustion he's the Good Shepherd who calls you by name if you ever feel overlooked or underappreciated by people remember that your reward ultimately comes from above that's not just a cliche it's a scriptural truth in Matthew 25 Jesus says
that whatever we do for the least of these we do for him every cup of cold water given in his name is remembered every prayer Every Act of compassion is noted in heaven that might not pay your bills or earn you a trophy but it does store up Treasures in eternity and it brings a level of fulfillment that money or recognition cannot match I also want to remind you that this journey is not meant to be walked in isolation even Jesus had disciples and the disciples had each other we see in the New Testament how
they supported and corrected one another prayed together and shared in both hardships and joys find your people those who understand or at least respect your calling surround yourself with mentors who can pour into you and mentees whom you can pour into in that Community you'll find strength you never knew you had iron sharpens iron as the proverb says so my dear friend if you have gone through your personal hell I stand before you as a witness that it can become the doorway to your greatest Ministry your heartbreak can become someone else's healing your tears can
become rivers of empathy that refresh parched Souls your once broken heart can become a vessel of divine love that invit invites others into wholeness in the kingdom of God nothing is wasted when surrendered to him hold on to that truth and let your life bear witness to the power of a God who takes what was meant to destroy us and transforms it into something glorious you are chosen not because you are perfect but because you are loved not because you asked for suffering but because you survived it and can now testify to a hope that
transcends it step into that role bravely let your scars speak of Grace let your voice Proclaim Redemption and let your hands be instruments of compassion the world needs you God's people need you and as you heed this call may you find a deeper sense of fulfillment than you ever dreamed possible for in giving yourself to others you will discover a new the heart of the one who first loved you amen and May the peace and power of God be with you as you walk forward as a Chosen One a wounded healer a vessel of the
Divine who turns ashes into Beauty both in your life and in the lives of those around you
