This morning, I found myself searching for a short message to encourage a friend heading into surgery. One scripture that surfaced almost immediately was from Malachi 4:2:
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings...”
At first glance, it seemed perfect—what a beautiful image: healing in His wings. But then I hesitated. That phrase “fear my name” stopped me. It didn’t sit well.
To many, "fear" suggests that God is dangerous, unapproachable, or harsh. It implies something punitive, not healing. But recovery has taught me to look deeper—beneath the surface of old words, into the deeper truth.
Fear as Reverence, Not Terror
In Hebrew, the word often translated as “fear” (yirah) more fully means awe, reverence, or deep respect. It’s the kind of fear that acknowledges the grandeur and holiness of God—not one that runs from Him, but one that bows before Him. It’s what Proverbs 9:10 refers to when it says:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...”
In this light, Malachi 4:2 becomes not a conditional threat but a promise to those who love and honor God—a God they have come to understand as merciful, kind, and trustworthy. Healing is not earned by cringing submission, but by turning our hearts to the One who loves perfectly.
Recovery Language: From Fear to Understanding
In recovery, we speak often of “a God of our understanding.” It’s not about fear as punishment, but about growing into trust, grace, and transformation. When I reread the verse through that lens, I saw something much more beautiful. I might now say to my friend:
“But unto you that understand the love and beauty of a Heavenly Father worth honoring, shall the Sun (or SON) of righteousness arise with healing in His wings...”
The wings of grace lift us. They carry us into new life. Through Christ—His life, His sacrifice, and His love—we find healing now and hope for eternity.
As Jesus said in John 14:6:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Christ isn’t just showing the way; He is the way. And it’s a way that heals, lifts, and redeems.
LDS Insight: Healing by His Love
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said in his 2017 General Conference talk “Songs Sung and Unsung”:
“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made… I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”
This is healing through the love of Christ. Not earned, not measured, not delayed—but freely offered to the humble, the weary, and the hopeful. To all who would receive it.
A New Morning
So this morning, I send this blessing to my friend—and to you:
May the Sun of righteousness rise in your life today. May His wings carry you. May His love heal you—not by fear, but by grace.
Good morning.
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