Heartbroken and Wounded: Running to the One Who Heals Hearts and Bandages Wounds

My granddaughter placed her tiny arms around my neck. Feeling heartbroken and wounded, she leaned into me and declared, “Mim, you make all my boo-boo’s better.” Wiping away tears, along with kissing and bandaging childhood bumps and scrapes had earned me her trust – and this sweet accolade. Pulling her closer, I held her in my embrace until she felt comforted enough to run and play once again.

Some days it seems I’m the little girl touting around all my bumps and scrapes. Like my granddaughter, I long to be held and comforted. I yearn for someone to pick me up, attend to my brokenness and bandage my open wounds. I’m certain I’m not alone.

So many are hurting today. So many of us are suffering far greater things than the scraped elbows and knees we experienced as children. Sadly, suffering is nothing new. Since that first moment when sin entered the garden (Genesis 3:6), someone has been hurting. And though we understand pain to be part of this life, such knowledge doesn’t make it easier to bear.

None of us is eager to endure suffering. Whether it’s a broken relationship, a tough diagnosis, the death of a loved one, or some terrible act of violence, the heavy weight of suffering presses down on us all. And though none of us sets out to encounter it, each of us is bound to run into it.

If that were the end of the story, we would have little reason to ever smile again. But friend, there is more to the story.

My granddaughter’s accolade reminded me of one of the many accolades mentioned in scripture. Psalm 147:3 declares this about our Lord – He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Did you catch that, my friend?

He brings healing to those who are heartbroken. He bandages the bumps and scrapes of those who’ve been wounded.

You and I? We are the heartbroken. We are the wounded in need of bandaging.

And Jesus? He is the One to whom we should run. The One to whom we can trust every ounce of our brokenness. The One who holds us in His embrace, helping us face the world again. It is Jesus who performs the healing and bandaging work in our lives.

So friend, when life gets hard, when the days seem unbearable, when our hopes and dreams shatter into a million pieces, may we be quick to remember:

He is our hope. He is the faithful Redeemer of our story.

Holding this truth close to our hearts, may we join together, fully present in one another’s lives. May we offer a word of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, and a heart willing to listen. May we pray for one another. And more than anything, may we lead one another to Jesus.

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Personal Reflection:

Friend, how have you experienced God’s healing in your own brokenness? What steps can you take today to invite Him into your current heartbroken and wounded places? What Bible verses will you commit to memory to assist you in the navigating of life’s difficulties?

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (CSB)

Others’ Reflection:

Are there people in your life who need encouragement and prayer? Do you have friends also navigating heartbroken and wounded places today? If so, how will you lead them to the hope we find in Jesus? What scripture references will you share with your friends? What steps can you put in place to help your friends memorize these scriptures?

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 1 Peter 5:10 (CSB)