"If we do not begin examining our wretchedness, if we stay lost and despair that we will never be forgiven, we end up licking our wounds, and they stay open and never heal. Instead there is medicine, there is healing, we only need take a small step towards God or at least express a desire to take it.A tiny opening is enough.( Pope Francis, The Name of God is Mercy, pg 57)
It is a hard thing for us to admit our wretchedness. To burst the bubble of our false perceptions of ourselves and to see ourselves in truth. We do not want to believe that we could have ever done something so terrible. I hear it all the time , "I cannot believe I had an abortion."
We want to believe the best of ourselves. Humility is often not easy to come by, so we continue to fight to find the answer that will make our truth of sin justified in some way. Trouble is it never can be. The paradox of course is that seeing ourselves in this truth and of our need for God is what actually heals us in the end. That which we dreaded most, is our answer.
Some people however, refuse to let go.They become comfortable in the despair and even find some kind of pleasure in "licking the wounds" caused by abortion. It is familiar, and to some familiarity is easier than taking a leap of faith and change through truth, especially if you were betrayed by those you loved.
I think that many, understandably, get stuck in this place, but as Pope Francis says, "a tiny opening is enough".
God knows it is scary, that is why He shows us over in over in scripture His mercy towards sinners. The adulteress woman, the prodigal son, the woman at the well, all sinners shown mercy.
Feeling stuck in your healing? Comfortable licking your wounds? Crack the door just a tiny bit! Ask God in, with sincerity of heart, in spite of your fears. He won't disappoint you and you just may find that the comfort and peace of healing is much better than licking your wounds!
