February 27, 2006
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Boy, when it rains it pours, today I received a devotional that speaks so strongly to me. It has to do with those who try to hurry up our healing. I had once asked Pastor Don why my healing takes so long and he told me so that I would have patience when I worked with others as they take time for healing.
I also asked him why God did not speak so forcibly in my life and he told me that because of the abuse I had received that God is very gentle, not wanting to hurt or push too hard or force Himself on me, rather He would wait until I could take a step at a time towards Him. This devotional speaks to that and I thought I would share it with you.
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NACR Daily Meditation for Monday, Feb 27, 2006
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He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised
reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.Isaiah 42:2-3
Cheer up! Snap out of it! I thought you would be better by now! What’s your
problem?!
When we have been badly bruised, we have an increased sensitivity to noise.
Comments like these – which many of us have heard even from people who genuinely
love and care for us – are a kind of ‘noise’ during recovery. Because we
have been bruised, these comments often feel like ‘shouts’ or ‘raised voices
in the street.’ They are a kind of public shaming because of our inadequacies
and neediness. And this feels like it will do us in – like the tiny recovery
candle that we have just managed to light is being snuffed out by the wind
of the shout.
And so when God responds with gentleness we are surprised. No shouting.
No yelling. No hurrying to get better. Instead, we find compassion and tenderness.
Our Healer sees that we are like a bruised reed. God will not break us. God
will patiently restore us. God sees we are like a smoldering wick, ready
to go out. Others might give up on us. But God will work with us until we
burn brightly again.
Gentleness. Patience. Persistence. We need all three. These are the gifts
offered to us by our healing God.
I am bruised, Lord.
I am smoldering.
And, I am so accustomed to shouting.
It’s so noisy that I don’t always hear your voice.
I don’t expect your gentle ways.
I expect you to yell, to be impatient.
I expect you to give up on me.
But you do not yell.
You are not impatient.
You do not give up.
Thank you.
Gentle Healer, teach me to be gentle.
Teach me to be compassionate with myself and with others.
Amen.
Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan
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ROOTED IN GOD’S LOVE (the book from which these meditations are taken, is back in print! To order call our office at 714-529-6227 ext 111 or order online at
http://www.nacronline.com/dox/store/nacrbooks.shtml
Comments (8)
That is an awesome devotional.. it really opens my eyes to alot of things in my life and the lives of those I love.. it’s a reminder to be more gentle with those who are hurting.. because I would want that same treatment when I am hurting (and have needed it in the past). Thank you for sharing that! hugs and prayers
wanan say Hi
of course I dont mind you subscribing to me….awesome devotion by the way. God just uterly amazes me. soo good.
Wow….that is an awesome devotion for those in this world that have been beaten down….we come to expect it from everyone and in every situation.
Have a blessed day!
Michele
That’s some life giving words.
A prayer to pray DAILY:
Petitions:
Heavenly Father, I ask you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
to defend the cause of the weak and fatherless
and to maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Heavenly Father, I ask you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
to rescue the weak and the needy
and to deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Confession of receipt:
Heavenly Father, I believed that I received, in the name of Jesus Christ, what I just prayed for when I prayed for it.
Thanksgiving:
I thank you Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus,
that you are defending the cause of the weak and the fatherless
and that you are maintaining the rights of the poor and the oppressed.
I thank you Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus,
that you are rescuing the weak and the needy
and are delivering them from the hand of the wicked.
GREAT POST!
I remember back in November my aunt, among many other people kept telling me, “Get over it! Move on! Stop pining over him (my lying, cheating ex-boyfriend).” It wasn’t easy. It’s not like I could snap my fingers and say, “Yay, he’s out of my heart!”
I complained of this to my cousin the end of December, and she said, “Of course, you’re not over him, these things take time, and there isn’t a proper timetable for this. You’re dealing with a major betrayal.”
It was then that I knew that was God speaking to me–God is gentle when the voices of our lives are so strong and aggressive.
What an excellent & timely post! As a survivor of different abuses from several abusers yours speaks clearly to me with my Abba’s voice, thank you for that!