Hope for the Hurting: For the Hurting: Encouragement for Suffering Seasonsಮಾದರಿ

Years ago, I walked beside a severely depressed teenager. This was during COVID, when schools were shutting down and everyone, kids and youth included, were forced into isolation. This was especially hard on her because, due to a painful home life, school had been her escape and safe place. The pandemic stole that from her. Each day, as she and I connected over Zoom, I had one goal—to help her guard her flickering light, her spark of life.

This is God’s heart for us as well. Jesus, our Savior, notices when we feel bruised and ready to break. He sees when the darkness of our circumstances presses in on us. And Scripture tells us, speaking of Jesus, that He won’t break bruised reeds or snuff out smoldering wicks.

Many of us feel like bruised reeds, and as if our heartache and overwhelm will soon extinguish the flickering light God placed within us. We might fear we’ve disappointed God, or that He’s got no use for us in our wounded state. But, to quote David Guzik from the Enduring Word, “[God] deals with [us] gently, tenderly, helping [us] along until the bruised reed is strong and the smoking flax is in full flame.”

That’s the picture Jesus painted in Matthew 11:28-30, which reads, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

He sees the weight we’re carrying and invites us to turn to Him, to seek His wisdom regarding how to make it through our storm, to align our lives with His will, and to rest in His incomprehensible grace, trusting Him to gently tend to our hearts and keep our lights burning.

~Warmly, Jennifer Slattery