By Erica Noble
Brave Women Series - Erica's Story
A little while ago my sock went missing and I couldn’t find it. It’s one my favorite socks because it’s navy. I have a ton of black socks – too many really – but I only have 2 pairs of navy socks, and I use them judiciously.
I knew they were in the laundry. When placing them in the dirty clothes, I kept them tucked inside each other. I only carefully separated them when I finally put them into the washer. I took careful note in my mind knowing that they were both there.
In a house with four kids and tons of laundry, keeping track of each person’s laundry is a high priority. A basket is assigned to each person. As I remove each piece of laundry from the dryer, I carefully place each item into its owner’s basket. This week was no different.
With the laundry finished, I delivered the baskets to each person’s room fully expecting each person to fold and put away their laundry in a timely manner. Having completed my deliveries, I began folding my laundry. Within the top layers of the pile, I came upon the first navy sock. I placed it among the other socks in a little pile having full confidence that its partner lay somewhere among the rest of the clean clothes.
Worry began to creep in as I got deeper into the basket and still did not encounter the second navy sock, but I brushed away the concern because I trusted the system. Finally, I arrived at the bottom of the basket to discover the other navy sock was missing. I looked again and again, but still couldn’t find it.
Having done all I could in the moment, I moved the navy sock drama to the back burner of my mind and carried on hoping my treasured sock would eventually appear. Little did I know God would use this situation to teach me a profound lesson.
Lately, I’ve been dealing with an old wound that was never fully healed. The weight of the original cut had long since dissipated. I’d learned to move the pain to the back burner of my thoughts and move on with life. But pain is an interesting partner. The Lord has shown me it takes great courage to engage it.
"I’ve been dealing with an old wound that was never fully healed... I’d learned to move the pain to the back burner of my thoughts and move on with life. But pain is an interesting partner. The Lord has shown me it takes great courage to engage it."
With the dullness of the ache in the background, I was able to function with it. I accepted the fact that the final healing of this pain may not come for a long time. I was ok with that truth for many years, but recently the hurt resurfaced. The wound needed final healing. But would I be brave enough to face the pain?
Earlier this morning in my daily Bible reading, I encountered Exodus 6. Hearing the groans of His children living in slavery in Egypt, the LORD remembered His covenant with their fathers. Finally, it was time to pull them out of slavery and carry them into the promised land. At first, both Moses and the Israelite people weren’t sure if they were up to the task. At times, they protested. It would take courage to trust the LORD. Could His people do it? Could He do it?
By the power of His name – I AM – He rescued His children! He claimed them as His own - He was the LORD their God, and they were His people. He healed their brokenness and restored them to life!
"By the power of His name – I AM – He rescued His children! He claimed them as His own - He was the LORD their God, and they were His people. He healed their brokenness and restored them to life!"
Excitement grew within my spirit as I read these words. Feeling the power of the LORD through the words of Exodus, my heart shouted, “That’s my God. That’s who He is. Yes, my God is LORD!”
With joy ringing within, these words stirred something deep inside and made me stop dead in my tracks. He had driven my attention to the unhealed wound. Held captive by the pain, I realized I had never fully surrendered this injury to Him, but I didn’t know if I was brave enough to let go and let Him heal.
"He had driven my attention to the unhealed wound. Held captive by the pain, I realized I had never fully surrendered this injury to Him, but I didn’t know if I was brave enough to let go and let Him heal."
Finally, I took the courageous leap and let Him in to examine the wound. Immediately the tears poured out as I cried aloud to Him and relinquished my pain into His hands. “Jesus! Please, heal me. Help me to not be held in bondage to my broken spirit. I want redemption and rescue from this pain. Please, heal me and remove my heartache!”
"I took the courageous leap and let Him in to examine the wound. Immediately the tears poured out as I cried aloud to Him and relinquished my pain into His hands."
The rest of the day moved forward in tearful prayer. As I carried on with my tasks, my soul continually cried out, “Heal me. Heal me. Heal me.”
Later on I decided to wear navy. As I dressed, I remembered the missing navy sock. As worry washed over me, I heard His whisper. He gently nudged me to go and search for the sock again. I searched in all the possible places. I found myself in my boys’ room with an unfolded basket of laundry. Unsure of what I would find, I dug down deep. Rifling through each clothing item, I went nearly to the bottom, thinking I might be on a fool’s errand, when I found it! I found my missing navy sock!
Feeling overwhelmed by joy and relief, I heard Him say, “Here it is. Here is My healing. Go searching for it, and you will find it. I will restore you and make you whole again. I will redeem you and release you from the prison of this pain. You can trust Me. I am LORD.”
The pain of the wound faded. I no longer felt the dull prick haunting me. When I wholly surrendered the wound to Him, His healing arrived with completeness.
"The pain of the wound faded. I no longer felt the dull prick haunting me. When I wholly surrendered the wound to Him, His healing arrived with completeness."
My sock went missing. I could not find it.
My wound hurt. I could not heal it.
But God heard my groans, and He remembered and answered me as His child. He is mine, and I am His. He is the LORD my God, who came to redeem us, rescue us, and restore us back to life. When we trust Christ with our pain, true healing will always be found in Him.
Brave Woman Manifesto
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About Erica
Erica Noble is a pastor's wife, a homeschool mom, and a believer in Jesus Christ! She lives in North Carolina with her husband and four children. She loves spreading the good news of Jesus and encouraging others to grow in their relationship with Him. You can learn more about her ministry for moms at www.thewellfedmom.com.
You can also find devotionals on her YouTube channel, Instagram and Facebook.
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