“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). “He (God the Father) has sent me (Jesus) to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives” (Isa. 61:1)
Dear Jesus, thank you 10 times—make that 100 times over. Bruised reeds, flickering candles, and broken hearts love it when you come near (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20). You are full empathy, compassion, and healing grace. To suffer is to be human, but to experience healing for our heart wounds is to be yours.
A song from the soundtrack of my high school years asked the question, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” It’s an important, ponder-worthy question, that’s not asked enough. I know what I did with mine. I medicated it poorly. I tried to bandage my heart wounds with denial, disconnect, and by distancing myself from anything or anyone that threatened more pain.
I was a false prophet to myself—like those you spoke about in Jeremiah’s day, who offered superficial healing to major wounds in your people, proclaiming peace when they had none to give (Jer. 6:14).
Fortunately, the fragile scaffolding of my attempts at self-healing collapsed under the weight of your grace. You came near Jesus, and you haven’t left. Not content just to prepare your Bride for heaven, you bring a good measure of heart-healing that we might live before we die.
By your mercy, gentleness, and kindness, I’m still in the healing journey—a process that has a most wonderful end in view (Rev. 21:1-22:6). The wounds of loss, the fear of more trauma, and the shame of … well, the shame of a lot of stuff don’t have the same power they once did. Thank you. “You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for,” for you are a most “wonderful, merciful Savior.” So Very Amen.
