“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
-Psalm 147:3 NIV
Have you ever felt too broken or like you fell down too many times? Have you felt too messed up for God? In Isaiah 57:18-19, the Lord says that He will heal the Israelites, despite their ways. “I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” Isaiah 57:18-19 Proverbs 24:16 says, “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” Perhaps, you feel like the toils and pains of this world have been too heavy to bear alone. Just remember, you are not alone. God has not abandoned you. Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39 NIV But, perhaps you feel like someone else has hurt you or broken you to the point, where you can no longer be repaired? Perhaps, this person has hurt you so much, that you feel that you cannot forgive them? And, you may feel that they don’t deserve your forgiveness. Perhaps, you have chosen to punish them by not forgiving them. Unfortunately, by not forgiving them you are allowing them to continually hurt you in perpetum. By not forgiving them, you are keeping yourself from the healing process. Multiple times in the Bible, we are instructed to forgive others, just as God forgave us (Read: Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:31-32, Mark 11:25). Even if you can no longer speak to the person, who harmed you, you can still forgive them. Today, I encourage you to let go of the hurts of pasts and press forward knowing that the God of forgiveness is there to comfort you, heal you, mend you, and give you peace. God’s word tells us that, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:18 The song called Mended (below), by Matthew West, describes how God sees us, even when we see ourselves as too wounded, broken, or too damaged to be repaired.
“When you see broken beyond repair I see healing beyond belief When you see too far gone I see one step away from home
How many times can one heart break?
It was never supposed to be this way
Look in the mirror, but you find someone you never thought you’d be
Oh, but I can still recognize
The one I love in your tear stained eyes
I know you might not see him now, so lift your eyes to me….
You see your worst mistake
But I see the price I paid
And there’s nothing you could ever do, to lose what grace has won
So hold on, it’s not the end
No, this is where love’s work begins I’m making all things new
And I will make a miracle of you…
I see my child, my beloved
The new creation you’re becoming You see the scars from when you fell But I see the stories they will tell
You see worthless, I see priceless You see pain, but I see a purpose You see unworthy, undeserving But I see you through eyes of mercy
When you see broken beyond repair I see healing beyond belief You’re not too far gone You’re one step away from home
When you see nothing but damaged goods I see something good in the making I’m not finished yet, no
When you see wounded, I see mended
Ooh, I see mended
Woah, oh I see mended
I’m not finished yet
When you see wounded, I see mended”
Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to remember that when we feel broken You are always there to pick up the pieces and mend us. Amen.
