Pro 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Heartache comes in many forms, at many times in our lives. It is always painful, sometimes crippling --- physically and spiritually. It's easy for us to get caught up in our despair, grief, discouragement, and even shut out others in our misery. Some of us handle our particular heartache by talking about it, trying desperately to find reasons and solutions. Some of us retreat; we are fearful of reaching out again, only to be rejected.
Humankind, even those we consider our friends, may not offer comfort, encouragement, or forgiveness. But Jesus stands ready, with open arms, reaching out to us before we even fall on our knees and ask Him. I know. I've been there, and He was there before I looked up.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus made a habit of healing the broken spirit, the lame, the blind, the lepers; He even raised the dead. So often when we read these stories we think of them as having physical ailments, but these can also be heartaches, and deep sorrows.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Matthew 11: 4-5
Look at these groups of people . . . put on your special spiritual "glasses" that allow you to see and understand things figuratively, not just literally . . .
Literally lame people are crippled, unable or barely able to walk. With our glasses, we can see that this could mean people who have been permanently damaged by their sorrows. Their greatest need is kindness, compassion, and a helping hand.
The literally blind people are unable to see. With our glasses, we can see that there are people so "blinded" by their sorrow that they are unable to perceive spiritual things. They lack the wisdom that we have studied, so they repeat the same mistakes, over and over again.
Real lepers are outcasts in the literal world. In the spiritual world, our glasses let us see people whose particular heartache is not being accepted by anyone. They fear they are misfits. Friendless and alone, they look in, wishing for a place.
In our physical world, the deaf cannot hear. Our glasses let us understand that there are people who need our assistance in order to hear and understand the things of the Spirit.
This is the miracle of Jesus --- he healed them all. He looked upon them with eyes of compassion and love, something that no one else did. He healed their brokeness and made them whole again.
Dealing with sorrows of the heart takes time, compassion, love, and patience. Whether we are the ones in pain, or someone else, we can ask Him to heal our hearts, and we can bring others with us to His side.
No one --- absolutely no one --- is a lost cause when Jesus is involved.
This is the hope that keeps me going, as I thank Him for His grace, comfort and strength.
This is very moving Jacque. We all need to be reminded often of those who are hurting and need our compassion and not our condemnation. And I think we all have times of despair and hurt even if it doesn't last.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of Psalm 30:5b
"weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
Jesus is the morning light isn't He?!
I often think of the wounded soldiers that people often harshly judge. Meaning Christians who have had a struggle or two.
ReplyDeleteEver heard of the Wounded Soldier song by Steve Green? Too bad no one will re-make it or something because I loved that son.