It's probably been two good years since I joined the Five Minute Friday linkup, but the invitation to spend five minutes writing on the word "Heal" without edits was a welcome chance to immerse myself in community. Here's the linkup for Five Minute Friday: Heal.
Heal. Heel.
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring
and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his
heel.” Genesis 3:15
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
"And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him." Luke 22:50-51
Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let them in, don't let them see.
Healing hurts.
Crying hurts.
Sadness is too sad.
It's easier to pretend not to feel.
It's easier to remain numb, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, shell shocked.
It hurts to sit and feel and mourn and grieve.
Everything that we couldn't control.
Every way we felt controlled by uncontrollable forces.
Everything we lost.
We want Jesus to answer, "No more of this!"
We cry out, "No more of this!"
Is He silent?
Is He good?
Where is He when life is not good?
Is God Sovreign?
We read Job.
That was not good.
Job did not do anything to deserve it.
God never told him "why".
But we are allowed to ask.
When I was in despair, a sweet small voice on the radio said "Salmo siete uno catorce."
Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
To heal, we must believe that God is faithful.
Only He will have the comfort our broken hearts need.
This world has trouble.
The Lord is my Shepherd.
Amen.
