Last week we asked why so many of us struggle to feel a running God running toward us. This week we have to ask the harder question.

What happens when the place that was supposed to heal us — wounds us instead?

Church hurt is real. It travels in every direction — from leadership to congregation, between members, and sometimes from congregation back to leadership. This episode doesn't look away from any of it.

But it also follows three men who faced that wound and made a remarkable choice.

Joseph — thrown into a pit by his own brothers — who looked at the people who betrayed him and said: "You meant it for evil. But God meant it for good."

David — who built 400 broken men into warriors, only to have those same men threaten to stone him at his lowest moment. And who strengthened himself in God and led them anyway.

Paul — who stood alone at his first defence, abandoned by everyone he had built — and wrote: "May it not be held against them."

Three wounds. Three men. One choice.

And one text that ties it all together — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. The God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles — so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we received.

The comfort was never meant to stay with you.

Abba's Balm is about finding your way back to the table — even after the table wounded you.