September 24th, 2018

Isaiah 61:1b
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted.

We all have our broken places.  We all have areas of
pain that are buried deep so that we don't think about
what hurts. Fractures in our hearts, spirits and bodies
build walls that are hard to get around or over.  The Lord
has everything we need to heal those places.  He has
been bruised for our iniquities and by His strips, we are
healed.

He knows the pain and hurt and loneliness we feel for
He has been there also.  He hurts when we hurt and He
grieves with us when life hands us losses that are more
than we think we can handle.
  
Some issues may not be healed in our lifetime, but we
can learn and grow and be a witness to others of the
Lord's great mercy and plan for us.  Others will be
watching the way we deal with everyday problems. 
Whether the problem is short term or long term, how
we deal with the problems speaks in a loud voice to those
around us.
  
He has not given us an easy path.  His disciples and
prophets all lived a life of sacrifice and most died as
martyrs for Him. They believed in the promise of His Word. 
  
He will not forsake us when we continue to live for Him
despite the challenges that we face. We may be afflicted
with financial disaster or life threatening disease or relational
destruction in our lives.  But the Lord has already lived
through and dealt with these issues. 
  
He had no home during His ministry. His disciple denied Him and another betrayed him. He has borne our afflictions and will grieve with us but He will also stand with us through it all.
  
We must be open to allowing Him to help us heal our own
broken places, despite the pain.  Then we can help heal the
broken places of the ones He sends to us.