Part 3
HEALING BY BEING HEARD
God will use you and repurpose you for his work in this world. But in the midst of our pain and suffering, that seems far away. How can we heal from our soul wounds when the pain is so close and so deep?
WHEN WE TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO LISTENS WELL, IT CAN HELP US:
1
Gain an honest understanding of what happened and how it has affected us
2
Express our feelings about what happened – accept what happened
3
Feel heard and know we are not alone
4
Trust that God also wants to hear about our pain
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD LISTENER
KRIS AND ADAM’S STORY
Earlier in the module, you listened to Kris and Adam’s story. Adam came back from overseas with a serious physical wound and disability. His initial reaction to being home was to be reclusive and to self medicate with alcohol. Kris is at a complete loss for how she can help her husband. More than that, she has no one to turn to. How does she begin to heal, so she can also support her husband? Listen to the conclusion of her story below.
WHEN IS LISTENING NOT ENOUGH? WHEN SHOULD WE ACT BEYOND JUST LISTENING?
Here are signs that someone may need more help beyond spending time with a good listener:
- Their behaviors put life and health at risk
- They are unable to complete daily activities or care for basic needs
- They frequently cannot manage their emotions
- They think things are happening that are not real, such as hearing voices or imagining that they are being followed
These behaviors show that someone needs professional help. Offer to help connect them with a chaplain, pastor, counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
For immediate assistance, reach out to these organizations.
DownloadReflect & Respond
Journal Exercise #3
We become good listeners by practicing. Even as we practice, we can help each other heal. Think about a conversation between yourself and someone that you trust. What are some helpful things you can do as a listener to support your friend?
If you have not yet downloaded and printed your Module 2 journal, you can download it now.
WHAT’S NEXT
Opening up by speaking to a trusted person may begin the healing process, but the pain will still be there. How should we handle this? Continue on to the next module in this series titled “Grieving.”