Daily Devotional: Wounds Will Come
- David A. Case
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV)
Wounds will come. That is not a confession of pessimism. It is a clear-eyed view of life in a fallen world. Jesus never pretended that people would always treat one another well. Scripture is direct about the reality of sin, conflict, and offense. Pretending otherwise only sets me up for shock and cynicism. A wiser path is to accept that pain will come my way, then decide ahead of time what I will do with it.
Pain carries a fork in the road. One path allows pain to dominate the future. The other path gives God opportunity to infuse life and blessing. The difference is not whether pain happened. The difference is what I do next. A wound can become a doorway into bitterness, isolation, and hardened self-protection. A wound can also become a doorway into maturity, humility, and deeper dependence on God.
One of the most practical truths I have learned is that growth requires exposure. What stays hidden cannot be healed. What never shows up will never be addressed. That is why the saying is so blunt: “If it don’t show up, I won’t grow up.” The surfacing of pain is not proof that God is absent. The surfacing of pain is often the very place where God wants to work.
Matthew 18 makes something plain: sinners exist. People will do things that cause pain. Every person will receive pain that is undeserved. That truth can make me angry or it can make me wise. Wisdom prepares for reality. Wisdom asks, “How will I respond when offense comes?” The heart that waits until the moment of pain to decide is often ruled by emotion. The heart that decides ahead of time is more likely to respond with faith.
This is where the Lord trains me. He does not merely want me to “get through” wounds. He wants me to become someone who is more like Christ because of how I respond. Maturity is not the absence of pain. Maturity is responding to pain without becoming poisonous. Maturity is learning how to stay connected to God when the heart wants to shut down. Maturity is learning how to keep love alive even when hurt is real.
The Christian life is not denial. Scripture does not ask me to call evil good. Scripture asks me to overcome evil with good. That is a different kind of strength. It is strength that comes from heaven’s resources rather than self’s reflexes.
So today I begin with a simple decision. Wounds will come. Pain will visit. Offense will happen. God will still be God. God will still be near. God will still be able to redeem what hurts. My future does not have to be shaped by what someone did to me. My future can be shaped by what God does in me as I respond.
Reflection Question
When pain comes, what is my most common reflex: withdrawal, retaliation, numbness, or turning toward God?
Prayer
Father, prepare my heart for reality. Help me not be shocked into bitterness when wounds come. Teach me to respond in a way that gives You room to bring life and blessing. Strengthen me to walk with You through pain and grow into the man or woman You intend me to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Obedience Step for Today
Write a one-sentence plan for your next painful moment: “When I feel wounded, I will _______.” Make it simple and actionable (pray, pause, seek counsel, speak truth, refuse retaliation).
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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