I am in awe by how often we see Jesus reach out and touch the sinner, the sick, and the unwanted.
I’m reminded of a fabulous show called “Jesus” that I watched several years ago. There’s this powerful scene when Peter begins drowning and he calls out for Jesus. As I watched this scene unfold I got chills as it so clearly echoed our need for our Savior.
I love that there are so many accounts recorded in the Bible of Jesus reaching out with His gentle touch and healing our brokenness, rescuing us from our ways, and comforting those who struggle.
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:34
He drew near.
Sometimes our brokenness makes us feel tattered, worn, and incomplete. It makes us want to retreat and hide in the darkness. But the darkness is the perfect breeding ground for shame and bitterness to grow. When we invite Him into the crevices of our pain we experience His comfort, healing, and beautiful grace. We see the leper in Matthew 8 invite Jesus into his brokeness.
Will you allow your brokenness to call you back into His loving arms?
When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus drew near.
God reminds us that the gaps and holes that our brokenness creates are the perfect places for Him to shine through us even brighter.
When we lean into Him with our brokenness it becomes our blessing. When we run from Him with our brokenness it becomes a burden.
He has drawn near. In the book of Luke, Jesus reminds us that he has come to heal the broken, the captive, the blind, and bruised… He has come to set us free.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” Matthew 14:30
Our brokenness and mistakes in the hands of God are opportunities for Him to shine through us even brighter.
Will you reach out and grab His gracious hands?
Will you draw near to the one who has already drawn near?
Lord, Help us to reach out to you and seek you in the midst of our suffering and brokenness. The word brokenness refers to the state of surrender and defeat we experience when hardship comes into our usually steady and painless life. Lord, we belong to you so may we come and find shelter and surrender in your loving arms. You tell us that there is not condemnation in you so may we renounce the lies and shame and walk in your truth. Heavenly Father, open the eyes of our hearts so we may see that we are nestled in Jesus’ and your loving arms sealed by the Holy Spirit. Nothing can separate us from your love. In your name, Amen
