Binding Up Our Wounds
It's time for your wounds to be tended to
Every year I provide attendees of my OASIS retreat with a devotional to prepare their hearts for our time together. This year, I’m sharing it publicly with my broader community because I think these words will pour into someone even if they aren’t attending the retreat. This is week 3. I hope it blesses you!
When my son scrapes his knee and it’s time for me to bandage it, He usually starts crying, saying “It hurts! It hurts!”. I respond by telling him “Mommy is going to be very gentle. I know it hurts but I have to clean it” . He cries and shares about the pain before I’ve done anything. He trembles because it hurts so badly already, the thought of me touching it creates a mental pain of wondering whether I’ll hurt him more. He reminds me that “it hurts” before I touch it to remind me that he needs tenderness.
When I actually do touch his wounds tenderly, he takes a deep breath. It still hurts when I touch it, but when he sees how tenderly I tend to the wounds, the pain of his fears subsides. He’s reminded to trust me when he realizes that I’m not going to aggressively clean his wounds.
In my trauma work, One of my favorite things for people, especially my Christian clients, to experience is how tenderly God tends to their wounds. Many spaces of faith communicate that God heals with force, and aggression, pushing us to our limits, but I’ve found that when we silence the voices that don’t understand the context of our pain, The tender presence of God gently binds out wounds as I do to my son. He cleans, bandages, and covers it to keep it safe. It’s a deliberate act of care—a moment where He says, “I see your pain, and I’m here to help you heal.”
God’s Gentle Healing
When Isaiah tells us that God binds up the brokenhearted, it’s a beautiful picture of His love. Binding up a wound isn’t rushed; it requires attention, gentleness, and time. God does the same with our hearts, minds, and souls when we’ve been hurt.
He Comforts and Soothes: Like a balm for a painful wound, God offers comfort when we feel overwhelmed by grief, betrayal, or loneliness.
He Heals Deep Hurts: God doesn’t just cover up the pain; He addresses the dysfunction and restores what’s been lost. Whether it’s emotional, spiritual, or relational, He works to make us whole again.
He Guards Our Vulnerability: Healing takes time, and God protects us as we journey toward restoration. Like a bandage shields a wound, His presence provides safety and care.
What Healing Requires
Here’s the thing about wounds: for them to be bound, they first have to be seen. That means we need to be honest about our pain, willing to let God—and sometimes others—see the parts of us we’d rather hide. It’s vulnerable, but it’s also necessary. Healing begins when we trust the Healer. Healing also requires that we abandon the idea of how we would get our healing. We have to truly acknowledge that the ideologies that harmed us cannot have the answers for our healing. Healing is a holistic paradigm shift that happens piece by piece.
OASIS: A Place for Healing
OASIS, you’ll find an environment where your wounds are tended to with care. This isn’t about rushing past your pain or pretending it’s not there. It’s about creating space for God to meet you in the middle of it—cleaning the wounds, binding them up, and protecting your heart as you heal.
Whether your wounds are fresh or long-hidden, OASIS is a safe space to let them be seen. Here, you’ll find comfort, care, and a gentle reminder that you don’t have to walk this road alone. I’m so excited to have you in the space.
Acknowledging the Wounds
Find a Quiet Space: Take a few minutes to sit in stillness. Let yourself become aware of any emotional, spiritual, or relational pain you’re carrying.
Get Honest: Write down the areas in your life where you are resistant to letting people get close to you when you're wounded. Are these areas where people have been tender to you?
Pray or Reflect: Ask God to give you the courage to let people get close so that you can experience having your wounds tended to.
As we allow God to bind up our wounds, we can trust that we are moving toward wholeness—one gentle, loving step at a time.
With love and care,
Kobe
I so wish I could attend oasis but this just blessed me in a major way and I had to acknowledge it. Continued blessings Kobe 🫶🏾❣️🙏🏾
LOVE this so much, Kobe! I know so much healing is gonna happen at Oasis! I so wish I could be there. ❤️ So happy for you and all the beautiful women that will be in the room.