Smoldering…

 A bruised reed he will not break, 
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, 
till he has brought justice through to victory. 
 ²¹ In his name the nations will put their hope."

Matthew 12:20

What is a bruised reed? What could be more fragile? Are you a bruised and feeling broken?

Have you been bruised by someone's harsh words? A friend's anger? The betrayal of your spouse? Have your own failures left you feeling bruised?

This world has a special place for the bruised and broken, the beaten. If it had its way, the world would break you off, snuff you out and never look back.

There is hope. There is a Creator who is the friend of the wounded heart and the keeper of our dreams. He heals the broken reed and ignites the smoldering flame.

Jesus often addressed the brokenhearted. 'Come to me if you are desperate because only desperate men and women are willing to suffer for my cause.' (Matthew 11:28-30) He understood those dark places. He knew what it was to be beaten and bruised. The cross did not just happen to Jesus. It was His purpose. It is why He came to earth. Our trials and suffering just do not randomly happen to us. Instead, God uses them to fulfill His purpose for our life.

Often times we are caught off guard by the surprises of life. Those moments remind us of our human frailty and our inability to control our circumstances and details of our life.

God is never caught off guard. He is never surprised at any disaster that falls upon us. Sudden tragedy does not surprise Him. He is never at a loss on how to solve a problem. God knows all His works from the beginning to the end of the world. For this reason, God is our rock solid assurance in the midst of life shattering disasters.

"Never will I leave you; 
   never will I forsake you."^[a]

 ⁶ So we say with confidence,

   "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. 
   What can mere mortals do to me?"

Hebrews 13:5-6

^9" But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

^2"8 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

"because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance".

James 1:3

When we find ourselves in the middle of a storm or dealing with suffering, we must cling to God's truth. We must remember that He is never surprised by anything in our lives. We do not suffer outside of the sovereignty of God.

When we feel beaten and bruised, we must remember that God has our best interests at heart. Suffering and rejection come so that we may learn to trust obediently. Our trials are a necessity used by God to squeeze those things (sin) out of us that we might otherwise excuse or even ignore.

In our moments of pain or disappointment, turn to the God who is never disappointed or surprised. Be assured that He is touched by your feelings of frailty. Find rest in Him. Trust that He is shaping you and growing your faith.

Don't be distracted by your suffering. Instead, walk obediently and allow it to drive you deeper into the heart of God. Though you may not be able to see the work of God's hand, choose to place your faith in His loving goodness.