I was already in college, pursuing my counseling degree, when Joyce Meyers talked about "Inner Healing" on her radio show. "He [God] wants to heal you," she said. "After all, He is living in your heart where all this is." She shared three scriptures that to her were foundational to her understanding. I took notes in my journal.
Today, I cannot find that page (or even that journal!), but I do remember these two passages that she used:
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
and
3 A bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
Isaiah 42:3
“A bruised reed” is a reference to the reeds that were used to make musical instruments…a kind of flute or pipe. If a reed was bruised, it wasn’t chosen, or if it was bruised during the holes being drilled, it was worthless and only good to be thrown away…often being broken in two and tossed away because it was now useless for anything.
The "smoldering wick" is sort of self-explanatory – if a light – candle or lamp – is flickering and in danger of going out, He doesn’t just go ahead and help it go out…He helps fan the spark into a full flame.
So often, a person may feel that places that are already bruised, broken or smoldering are being crushed further…
The image of God that you carry within determines if you believe He will help you or destroy you.
The Bible is clear - God loves us:
- from before the foundation of the world
- before we became His
- while we were yet sinners
- when we were hostile in mind towards Him
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 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 8:31-39 (NIV)
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God!
Healing is at the very heart of God. "I am the lord, who heals you" (Ex. 15:26). The healing theme runs throughout the meta narrative of the Bible: Creation to Fall to redemption to consummation. Every stage involves healing, restoration, reconciliation, and transformation of God's people in spirit, soul (mind, will, emotion), and body through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Christianity Today)
It is my hope that you know, without a shadow of doubt, that God's will is to heal you, to bring you to wholeness, to show you tenderness and love while you are on this journey, and that confidence and trust in His care for you will grow and flourish in your heart.
Till next time...
Cindy
