After Amanda asked for prayer for the pain her wounds and injuries were causing her after the December 2 incident, her friends Kathleen M. and Ethel P. shared this Bible verse with her.
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord.
— Jeremiah 30:17a (NKJV) —
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
— Psalms 6:2 (NKJV) —
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
— Matthew 5:4 (NKJV) —
I lost thirteen beloved coworkers on December 2 and I continue to mourn their loss. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter (John 14:16, KJV) and I have been actively praying for the Comforter to help me in this grieving process. I have also been comforted by the knowledge that Christ understands my sadness. He was called a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). When He lost his dear friend Lazarus, He wept (John 11:35). I know when I cry, Jesus feels and understands my anguish.
One of my favorite authors, Ellen White, wrote the following about today’s verse.
The blessed Saviour…longs to clasp our hands, to have us look to Him in simple faith, permitting Him to guide us. His heart is open to our griefs, our sorrows, and our trials. He has loved us with an everlasting love and with loving-kindness compassed us about. We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace. Think of this, children of suffering and sorrow, and rejoice in hope. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
— Excerpt from the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 12.
Reader, I do not know what you may be going through in your life right now, but Jesus does. He is always with you. Have faith in Him. He will help you with whatever trial or struggle you are facing. Pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort you, and He will. Jesus is coming again VERY soon, and in heaven we will never sorrow or mourn again. What a glorious day that will be!!
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
— Psalms 147:3 (NKJV) —
As a blanket of snow covered many of our homes this weekend, our minds couldn’t help but think of the spiritual significance of snow. Even though I live in the South now (where we had flurries, and it still shut down schools), I’m a former New Englander. I have such a clear picture in my mind of the morning after a snowfall, waking up and looking outside my window to see the sun glistening like diamonds on an almost blindingly white blanket of snow covering the ground. Untouched. Perfect. The snow has covered the brown, dead grass beneath, and has turned the bleak world of winter into a scene of sparkling beauty. It seems magical, really.
But what David is pleading for here in the verse that inspired this hymn is not magic. It’s a miracle. We may have made a huge mistake or might be spiritually dead inside. But when that moment of repentance comes, when we awaken to the reality that we can’t do this on our own, and we need the Lord’s help, He is there to cover us in His love. He promises to wash our hearts of sin if we accept Him through the miracle of salvation, and in His eyes we will be as spotless as the snow.
This has always been one of my favorite verses in the Bible, for many reasons, but the meaning has never hit home quite as much as now, when my sister is still in such great need of healing. In so many ways. I wish more than anything I was able to be there, helping her, and that this burden would be lifted from her (or actually never would have happened to her). But sharing these Bible verses with her, and working on our project together–that’s the least I can do. So today I dedicate this verse and image to her. And we have the assurance, here in this verse, that God is going to take care of everything. I love you so much, Amanda!
“But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”
— Malachi 4:2 (NKJV) —
