[Lenay Nichols]

These days I have been going to see my therapist in order to do some much needed deeper work. Although on the outside it may look like things have been worked out, all growth isn’t visible. That is what came to mind for me when reading the scripture Mathew 9:2, when Jesus first forgave the man’s sins before healing him physically. It reminds me that sometime the deeper healing happens within, and it may not be something others can immediately see. What does stands out to me in this passage is not only the healing Jesus did, but the authority Jesus showed in offering forgiveness. This speaks to the idea that spiritual and emotional healing can be just as important, if not more important, than physical healing. It also shows how my faith plays a role in the process, because the man and those around him believed before they saw the outcome. In this season of my life, I am learning that growth requires patience, humility, and honesty with myself. Doing deeper work is not always easy, but it is necessary, and it reminds me that real healing often happens underneath it all before it shows outwardly.