Walking Wounded

by Kathryn McKinney
(North Carolina)

As I find myself living IN the world I have found that I am often wounded BY the world. The wounds the world inflicts feel like rejection, unkindness and insensitivity often leading me to feel abandoned and alone.

As I search for comfort in the Word, I find where Jesus is speaking to his disciples in John 16:32-33, He says,

"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

In my line of work I have experienced many who are accepting, kind and sensitive yet, only to a point. That point is the intersection of values, belief's and choosing to love. Once worldly values such as gossip and back-biting are not clearly supported, people go away. If you believe in someone no matter their short-comings, you are thought to be strange. If you choose to love the unlovable, the world laughs, mocks and spreads lie's.

But take heart because through Christ we have overcome the world. It is true I am finding that in the world I will have trouble, yet, how do I overcome the trouble? What do I say to the gossipers, the liars the backbiters? Do I call them out as John the Baptist did? "You brood of vipers!" Well, I could, however God knows I am not a person who has ever liked aggravated confrontation. Instead, I find the walking wounded and I love them as Christ loves me.

I too at times have found myself walking wounded, yet I have found that I can be an overcomer because He that is within me is greater than those within the world. I have found my worth in glory through the words of Christ in the above verse, He tells them, "...I am not alone, for my Father is with me." He knew the world would abandon Him, reject Him, be unkind to Him, yet, He found His comfort in His Father who was with Him. He knew His purpose. He walked towards His calling. He loved despite rejection. He knew that the wounds they inflicted were only temporary, and stood for a higher purpose. Part of that purpose is so that we can walk in glory because;

"... he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

The next time I am wounded, I will remember that long walk to Calvary. Jesus also walked wounded. He walked however, with grace, mercy and love so that I could walk in His footsteps towards others. My calling is no less as I take up my cross daily and follow Him.


Mark 8:34
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

May God keep us in perfect peace!
Kathryn McKinney