I want to share a devotional that really spoke to me the other day. Its from the devotional "Jesus Lives" by Sarah Young (& no that's not my pen name...) =).
"Your weakness and brokenness draw Me ever so near you. You can open up to Me
because I understand you perfectly. My compassion for you is overflowing. As you
open yourself to My healing Presence, I fill you with Peace that transcends under-
standing. So stop trying to figure everything out. Instead, lean on Me, letting your
head rest on My chest. While you rest, I will be watching over you and all that
concerns you.
Trust Me in the depths of your being, where I live in union with you. My healing
work in you is most effective when you are actively trusting Me. Though the
mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing Love for you will
not be shaken. This is the essence of My compassion for you: No matter how
desperate your circumstance, the one thing you can always count on is My unfailing
Love." (Isaiah 42:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 54:10)
I don't know about you, but for me it's extremely hard to admit my weaknesses and to allow my brokenness to shine through. I was challenged by the thought that it is precisely those two attitudes that draw Jesus very near to me. If my heart is rebelling against my weakness and I'm desperately trying to hold the pieces together, I am in essence driving Jesus away.
Opening myself to Jesus and His Healing Presence, means being vulnerable. Before I can be okay with opening myself to Him, I have to first of all trust His heart of compassion toward me. I struggle with leaning on my Jesus instead of wracking my brain trying to figure everything out. Do you remember how when you would brush-burn your elbows or knees, how Mom would pull out the Peroxide and pour it on and oh how it burned? My point is that Jesus' healing touch won't necessarily feel good. Your heart's gonna hurt maybe even more than before in order for your wounds to heal. But remember, Jesus has overflowing compassion for me and you. Notice that for healing to be effective, we have to actively trust Him.
I love the verse that portrays the essence of Jesus' compassion for me, His child even when I'm struggling to lean against Him in utter trust. Though the mountains be removed, yet My unfailing Love for you will not be shaken! Even though my world feels like its been turned upside down and a twister has come through and devastated my heart, still I can count on Jesus' unfailing, unfathomable love.
I dare you -- come in your brokenness/weakness and join me in Jesus' healing, compassionate Presence.
