Upside-down Healing

. . . he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

To bind up means to wrap firmly, especially by compression for healing. Newborn babies are comforted with snug swaddling. Weighted blankets calm and secure the anxious. Compresses stop bleeding. Bandages immobilize fractures and control pain.

Jesus as Messiah, empowered by God’s Spirit, securely binds together the broken pieces of our hearts for healing and wholeness. Not just a surface, quick fix.

Binding up of the brokenhearted looks differently for different situations. Jesus knows what is needed and when.

Healing for the soul may take place through:

·         Grieving losses

·         Forgiving others

·         Turning away from wrongdoing

·         Replacing lies with God’s Word

·         Resting from strife

·         Nurturing from loving people

·         Honest praying and praising

·         Giving thanks.

We trust our Spirit-led Jesus to do these in us—for us—which is upside-down thinking according to the world.

Contemporary cultures promote different messages for healing. “Just forget it and move on.” “You’re ok; get over it.” “Take this little pill or drink this and you’ll feel better.” “Life isn’t supposed to be hard. Take the easy way out.”

Both of my parents and both of my brothers passed away within a period of six years. Some tragically, and some more expectedly. My heart broke over each one.

I’m thankful for loving words, hugs, listening friends, a measure of understanding, God’s presence as my heavenly Father, and time to ponder and pray.

Part of my healing has been through God-given opportunities to grieve with others when their hearts have been shaken and shattered.

A broken heart is humbling and susceptible to dark valley living. It’s painful, yes, but not to be avoided. A broken heart may feel like being in a foreign land amongst enemies—just as God’s chosen people, Israel, while in exile for seventy years. But God hadn’t forgotten them.

He doesn’t forget you or me either.

Our hearts will break. Jesus wants to bind us up close to His heart. Will you dare to embrace God’s radical upside-down ways of healing?

Karen Sims