Overview:
The deeper the wound, the longer it typically takes to heal. And while God can work in an instant, He often employs a process that takes time. Pastor Chuck Swindoll teaches from Acts 28:1–10 and applies takeaways from the apostle Paul’s miraculous, personal healing as well as his healing ministry. Whether you’re recovering from physical pain or from emotional grief or another kind of trauma, be assured that God offers healing. Commiserate with shipwrecked Paul and remember that God can cause good to come even from setbacks, attacks, or illnesses!
Message Summary:
In a world addicted to "instant everything," the concept of a slow recovery can feel like a spiritual failure. However, Chuck Swindoll reminds us that "healing is a matter of time." While miraculous, rapid relief is the focus of many popular ministries, Chuck addresses the often-overlooked reality of the Spirit’s work in the "convalescence" of the soul. Drawing from the shipwreck of Paul in Acts 28, this message explores how extreme difficulties often require an extreme amount of time to mend. Chuck validates the experience of those who hurt and do not heal in a hurry, asserting that God never wastes an affliction and that the "Island of Malta" is a necessary stop on the journey toward spiritual maturity.
Chuck weaves together the wisdom of the Greek physician Hippocrates, the Proverbs of Solomon, and the medical observations of Dr. Luke to build a case for the dignity of the healing process. He notes that the Spirit of God does not just bring "instant healing"—which was the exception even in the New Testament—but also "prolonged curing" (therapeuō). For those struggling with deep emotional scars, the aftermath of divorce, the dregs of depression, or the loss of a loved one, the message is one of profound grace: you are not required to "snap out of it." Instead, you are invited to trust the Spirit's timing as He uses the season of recovery to make you "real"—scarred, authentic, and uniquely equipped to minister to others who are walking through their own valley.Message Key Facts:
- The Shipwreck of Paul: Chuck recounts the harrowing storm Paul faced on his way to Rome. After days without food or hope, the ship struck a reef, and all 276 people were washed ashore on the island of Malta. Chuck highlights that although everyone survived, they were "human debris" on the beach—exhausted and broken, requiring a unique period of recovery before moving toward their destination.
- Malta: The Lonely Island: Chuck observes that Malta was a place of solitude in the middle of the Mediterranean. He suggests that healing is inherently a lonely experience; no one can experience your grief for you. Whether your "island" is a consequence of your own actions or a trial outside your control, it is a place where you must learn to accept yourself and the Spirit's work in the darkness.
- The Viper and Unjust Criticism: Shortly after arriving on Malta, Paul was bitten by a viper. The natives immediately judged him as a "murderer" whom justice would not allow to live. Chuck uses this to highlight the "unjust criticism" often faced by the hurting. He pleads with believers to avoid the false principle that "calamity is proof of guilt," reminding us that the hurting need presence and care, not sermons and labels.
- The "Skin Horse" and Being Real: Drawing from The Velveteen Rabbit, Chuck describes the "Skin Horse"—a toy that was shabby, loose in the joints, and "loved to pieces." He explains that God isn't looking for "varnished, perfect saints" but for "real" people. It is through the scars, bruisings, and prolonged recovery that a believer becomes "real" and valuable to others. "Once you are real," Chuck notes, "you can't be ugly except to people who don't understand."
- Instant Healing vs. Prolonged Curing: Chuck points out a subtle but vital distinction in Acts 28. In verse 8, Paul heals the father of Publius "instantly" (iaomai). However, in verse 9, the rest of the islanders were "getting cured" (therapeuō). This indicates a process, a blending of divine power and the therapy of time. Chuck affirms that for most, the Spirit's work is a "prolonged recovery" where God does a deep, slow work in the soul.
Message References:
- Acts 28:1–10: The primary text detailing Paul's three-month stay on the island of Malta, the extraordinary kindness of the natives, the viper bite, and the various healings and "curings" that took place.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1–3: Solomon’s wisdom that there is an "appointed time for everything," specifically highlighting that there is a "time to heal."
- Romans 8:28: The promise that God works all things together for good, though Chuck notes that the truth of this verse often takes months or years to "feel" real in the midst of a "tunnel of horror."
- Isaiah 53:5: The foundational truth that "by His stripe we are healed," which provides the simple answer for the sin-sick soul, even as the complex healing of the mind and emotions takes time.
- 1 John 2:1–2 & 4:4: References to the Spirit's anointing and the assurance that "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world," providing the security needed to endure a slow recovery.
