Book Sampler
As an author and blogger, I find my expression through writing and I love to share that with others. Today I thought I would share a sample of my devotional, Tattered Hearts and Hopeful Souls. I am sharing with you the devotional from Day 16 titled; A Bruised Reed. I hope you find it meaningful.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42: 3
I used to share this verse with my son as he worked towards staying clean and sober. There were times that he had relapses and felt so discouraged. I regularly reminded him of this promise. And now, I find that I am applying this same promise to myself. In fact, I have it tattooed on my arm. I’m not sure about you, but there have been so many times that I have felt battered and bruised and hanging by a thread.
What a promise this is! In all of our striving, we are reminded that we don’t have to reach perfection here on this earth. If we are limping, crawling, dragging our broken bodies forward with barely a flicker, God will meet us there. He will surround us and lift us up and heal our wounds. I know, without a doubt, that he did exactly that for my son Mikael.
Hebrews 7: 25 tells us: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” The King James Version of the Bible uses the term “to save to the uttermost” which I just love! You simply cannot be saved any more completely than that! When our strength and faith is reduced to just the barest puff of smoke, Jesus’s sacrifice of love is there to save us in every possible way there is to be saved.
The prophet Elijah is a perfect example of this. In 1 Kings 19, we find him running for his life in fear of Jezebel, the queen of Israel, who has sworn to kill him. He ends up in the wilderness, sitting under a broom bush and praying for his life to end. A bruised reed and smoldering wick? I think we can definitely say so. What happens next? God provided for and cared for him:
Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19: 5-8
It is interesting to note that Elijah was strengthened to the point where he was then able to travel for forty days and nights. God didn’t just save him a little bit; he saved him completely!
We know that we will have trouble and heartache in this world. In fact, Jesus told us this very thing. John 16:33 says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may find peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The peace we need to soothe our broken hearts can be found in Christ. He literally sends his angels to minister to us.
Prayer: There are some days where I feel like I am literally crawling through wet cement. I can barely make it through the day and my brokenness leaves me without breath. Oh dear Jesus, please be with me and hold me upright. Please send me your peace. If you would like to see more of this devotional, you can check it out on Amazon: here is the link. https://a.co/d/9PJVzL3 (Canada) or https://a.co/d/dqe2oRe (US)
