Since I am posting a lot more lately, I want to be intentional about what exactly I’m writing about. I could easily turn this into just another blog about what I think people want to read about. But that’s not why I started this blog. I started this blog in hopes to bring light to what a great Savior we have, and share about what I am learning from him or just what he is doing in my life. With that being said, I am going to make it a point to write a devotional type post/what God is teaching me at least once a week.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
– Isaiah 42:3-4
These verses were first introduced to me at a conference that I went to a few years ago, and they completely opened my eyes to who God is in a way that I had never seen him before. I am currently reading through the bible from start to finish, and have been for the past year and a half or so. I am in the book of Isaiah now and just read these verses the other day and it reminded me of the truth that I learned years ago at that conference.
That truth is that we have a gentle God. That is such an awesome truth to me and one that I need someone to remind me of daily. I don’t know about you, but when I think of God, gentle is never one of the first adjectives I use to describe him. But it’s true, our God is a God of love and mercy and according to this verse, gentleness.
This part of Isaiah is what is known as one of The Servant Songs, according to the pastor that preached on this the night of the conference that I’m writing about. It is a series of verses that are prophesying about Jesus and it is amazing the analogy that Isaiah used. “A bruised reed, he will not break; a smoldering wick, he will not snuff out”. I had no idea what a reed looked like, never mind a bruised reed until the pastor explained this to us what this was, so let me do the same.
This is what a “bruised reed” looks like. In other words, it is something that is very fragile. Something that is very easily broken. And the same goes for a smoldering wick. A smoldering wick can very easily be blown out. These two illustrations are of two very fragile, easily broken things. And the parallel between them and our Savior is that he will not break or put out these things. What an amazing truth.
Have you ever felt like you were just hanging on by a thread? Like if just one more little thing happens that you might just completely fall apart? In those moments, this verse shows us that God accepts you as you are. When it feels like the whole world is against us, but we keep telling ourselves we need to be more, do more, try harder. These verses show us that those thoughts or feelings are not of God. He is a tender God who is gentle to those who are feeling defeated. And more than that, he is a God who will build you back up and care for you in those times where you feel broken or bruised.
So if this is you now, go to God with your feelings. Spill them at his feet. Express to him how you feel and why. Ask him for strength to do what you know is right. Remind yourself that we have a gentle Savior. He does not expect more of you. Be gentle with yourself.
And maybe this isn’t you at this time. But maybe you remember what it feels like to be a bruised reed. In this case I think it’s important for us to be gentle to those around us because there is destined to be someone who does feel like a bruised reed that we know, and we now have the opportunity to act like our Savior and bring about his peace to those who need it. Be gentle to those around you.
If you are interested in hearing more about this, the night of the conference that I am talking about can be watched here. Tim Henderson is a great speaker and goes into so much more detail.