Today, I want to talk about something that affects many of us deeply: moral injury. While the term might sound unfamiliar, it describes the profound hurt we feel when we’ve done or witnessed things that go against our deepest values.
Consider these heartfelt words:
“Moral injury is how I lost my trust in the world around me. Everything I believed in seemed to vanish, and I could no longer find peace. I felt deeply betrayed, and the hardest part was realizing I had betrayed myself.” — Michael Yandell[1]
And from Joel:
“I’ve seen things I wish I could forget. I cannot undo what I’ve done or change the past. I’m no longer the person I used to be, and I’m ashamed of who I’ve become. I don’t think I can ever be forgiven. I can’t imagine any kind of God who would love me now.” [2]
These honest expressions show how moral injury can break a person’s spirit, leaving them feeling lost, guilty, and disconnected.
Similarly, sin can quietly slip into our lives without us even noticing. Sins like pride, greed, envy, lust, anger, and sloth can take root in our hearts, distorting our sense of right and wrong and pulling us away from God. These hidden struggles can cloud our judgment and build barriers between us and the Lord. They affect not only our personal well-being but also the health and unity of our church community.
A few weeks ago, I read an article by Elizabeth Liebert. [3]. She explains how spiritual practices can play a significant role in healing these deep wounds and helping us recover from moral injury. As I was reading it, it struck me that if spiritual practices can help us heal from such profound wounds, they can surely help us recover from the wounds caused by other sins as well.
As a Christian, I realize I should have known this all along. After all, spiritual practices are part of the means of grace -“ways in which we continue to receive God’s transforming love as we journey toward sanctification.” [4] By turning to prayer, immersing ourselves in God’s Word, worshiping together, and reflecting on God’s grace, we open ourselves to God’s unfathomable love. Through these means of grace, God empowers us to face our shame and guilt, accept God’s forgiveness, and rebuild our relationships with God and others.
Let’s stand side by side on this journey of self-reflection and growth. Let’s be mindful of how sin and moral injury can influence us and seek God’s grace to overcome them. Remember the comforting words of Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.“
May the peace of Christ fill your hearts abundantly, and you see yourself “with the same loving gaze with which God looks upon you.” [5]
[1] Elizabeth A. Liebert, Accessible Spiritual Practices to Aid in Recovery from Moral Injury, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11089-018-0825-1
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4]https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/what-we-mean-by-means-of-grace#:~:text=When%20we%20practice%20the%20means,love%2C%20holiness%20and%20mercy%20broadly.
[5] Elizabeth A. Liebert, Accessible Spiritual Practices to Aid in Recovery from Moral Injury.